He discovered its founder refused a salary.
Discovered the organization struggled each year to maintain programs.
So he created an endowment.
I looked at Mason sharply.
“Half a million?”
Mason shook his head.
“No.”
My heartbeat changed.
“How much?”
Mason looked at the screen instead of me.
The video continued.
Richard Bell smiled.
“If Mason ever watches this, he’s going to be annoyed with me.”
Mason muttered, “Correct.”
I almost laughed.
Then Richard said:
“So I didn’t donate to Mason.”
He paused.
“I donated to the idea that no human being should have to earn the right to belong in a room.”
My eyes blurred.
“And to make sure that idea lasts longer than I do, my foundation has established a permanent endowment of twenty-four million dollars.”
I stopped breathing.
Twenty-four.
Million.
Dollars.
The video continued.
The fund would finance Same Table accessibility programs nationally.
Training.
Community spaces.
