Courage

Another core value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is Courage. It is an important value because, to me, it is about always standing behind your mission, purpose and beliefs.

I remember watching the movie “12 Angry Men” with Henry Fonda. It is an old movie but it has a great message. It tells the story of one juror who had the courage to stand up against all of the other jurors who wanted to convict a man. The reasons they wanted to convict varied and their reasons appeared self-serving. Some of the jurors were missing work, some were late for an appointment and some thought the room was too hot because of no air conditioning. Others had perceived biases that tainted their objectivity. For example, the young man on trial was Hispanic and one juror had had a bad experience with a Hispanic person in the past and was, therefore, prejudice. Henry Fonda’s character not only showed the courage to stand alone with his vote of not guilty, but he was able to point out the weaknesses in the arguments of the other jurors. He stood by his convictions, beliefs and principles and had the courage to go against the majority. In the end, justice was served and the man was found not guilty, in large part due to Fonda’s character’s courage.

We all face difficulties in our lives and what sets people with courage apart from others is fortitude. Often courage requires risk because the outcome could be harmful. God gives us all many gifts and he allows us to use those gifts when ever possible.

So what does courage mean? Courage is doing the right thing when the wrong thing seems to produce better results. Courage is looking past yourself and dedicating your energy to the betterment of mankind. Courage is the ability to set aside all your disappointments and still be able to open your heart and mind to others and give them your all. Courage is the ability to say I was wrong and I am sorry. Courage is doing something difficult, and even dangerous, selflessly. Courage is grace under pressure and humility out of honor. Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Lastly, courage is standing for your principles and beliefs regardless of the obstacles and barriers that are put before you. Courage is an important core value and something that lies within every single one of us.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Respect

One of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s core values is respect. I would like to share with you what respect means to me as one who works in Foundation Ministry.

Respect is a culture here at the Foundation. It is something that every single person expresses to every other person in this office. It starts here each day with our staff and board members. It is a mutual respect and understanding about fulfilling the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and addressing generational poverty. It is reflected in our relationship with nonprofit and faith-based organizations. We want them to know that each of them has value of purpose and that each one, regardless of the size of the organization, location or funding amount awarded, will be treated fairly and equally. We also respect each individual regardless of race, religion, age, gender, etc.

We respect each grantee after they are funded and work diligently to build confidence and trust. We are also respectful of the beneficiaries of the services provided by our grantees. These are the individuals that are living in poor neighborhoods or communities that are dealing with a wide array of issues on a daily basis. Our intent is to always keep the children and families in our thoughts and prayers daily and to never lose sight of the goal. We also realize that many of these individuals feel hopeless or compromised and deserve the respect of each of us individually and of the Foundation organizationally.

We are in the business of helping others less fortunate and the first step in helping is giving others the respect they deserve. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is far from perfect and we learn new things every day. God has blessed us with an opportunity to make a difference and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

The core value of respect is one of the most important values we have because it exemplifies who we are and how we operate. Through respect we engage, teach, listen, learn, support and adapt. Respect matters and it matters not just once in awhile; it matters always and it matters in every single situation. We fulfill our mission as a Foundation in a multitude of ways and at the forefront of that work is our unwavering respect for every single person we meet. It sounds simple, but it may be the most important thing we can do for others.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Thinking About Mother

I think Mother’s Day is one of the best days of the year. For me, it is a time to celebrate my own mother’s contributions to my life and reflect on the wonderful memories of the past. My mom is elderly and in poor health, but she lives nearby and we can visit on a regular basis. I see her almost every day and she is still my biggest fan and my biggest critic. With mom, there is no sugar coating. If you have circles under your eyes, you are going to hear about it. If you have on a snazzy tie, you will get a compliment. If you have gained a little weight, she will bring it to your attention. I love that about mom. It is pure honesty.

The other day, mom said to me, “You still love me a lot don’t you?” I replied, “I can’t believe you asked me that question mom, of course I love you with all my heart.” She grinned and said, “Just checking.” Then, I asked her, “Do you still love me?” and she said, “Oh my goodness, more than tongue can tell.” I had never heard that expression before but it really made me feel good.

I have wonderful memories of mom in our hometown in West Virginia. She always wore an apron in the kitchen and was always cooking something for us. She was a faithful member of the local Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and served on several boards and committees. My mom has lived her faith in her daily life as well as anyone. She had a job in the local bank that positioned her in the middle of the lobby. She greeted every single person who came into the bank with a smile and a warm welcome. I still have people come up to me today and tell me how much mom influenced their lives. She supported them through a divorce or gave them advice during a pregnancy or was just there to listen when people needed to talk. That is a great quality-listening, and mom has always been a great listener. She nursed my wounds both inside and out and I went off into the world a much better person because of her.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we celebrate a bond like no other. Our moms birthed us and cared for us, raised us and sent us out into the world. I am blessed to still have my mother as part of my life. There is no one else like her and there never will be. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there. You deserve this special day.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Ethics are Important in Nonprofits

Ethics are extremely important in nonprofit organizations and for many different reasons. The challenges facing nonprofits today is greater than ever before. This is true with financial, operational and organizational issues. Ethical dilemmas face nonprofits in all three of these areas.

Recently, the United Way of Charlotte was placed under the microscope when the board’s executive committee, unbeknownst to many of the other board members, took nearly $1 million of donor funds and placed it in the retirement account of the CEO. Their explanation was that it was to make up for past commitments. The outcome of this dilemma was not pretty. The chairman of the board and several trustees resigned. The public relations fall out to the United Way of Charlotte was devastating. Their financial campaign was significantly down from the previous year, and the CEO was forced to resign and has since sued the United Way for wrongful termination.

Could this all have been avoided? Yes. First of all, there should be full disclosure among all board members. A commitment of this nature was the first mistake made by the board of trustees. You don’t want to promise things that you will have to pay for later, particularly if it involves a lump sum of nearly $1 million. If a commitment was made to the CEO then an equitable plan should be devised that is fair to the donors, fair to the CEO and protective of the reputation of the United Way.

Trustees are as responsible as staff for the health and well-being of a nonprofit. There should be a code of ethics, conflict of interest statements signed by every board member and other checks and balances in place to protect the integrity of the organization. In addition, the board should appoint a committee to monitor the board’s performance and behavior.

Every nonprofit is beholding to the public trust. When they accept a donation or grant from an individual or group, they have a fiduciary responsibility to protect these funds and use it for its mission and purpose. When one nonprofit falters then it has a very negative impact on other nonprofit organizations in that community. It is without question that nonprofit are, and should be, held to a higher standard. It is the role of the board and staff to insure that protective measures are put in place and certain standards are met continuously. Anything less is a recipe for problems which need to be avoided at all costs.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Prayer

Ever since I got on my knees as a youngster and prayed before going to sleep, I have wondered about and witnessed prayer. The power of prayer can often go unnoticed in our every day lives. It is prayer that gives us a sense of comfort, a sense of hope and a feeling of God’s hand and spirit in our lives.

By sharing our feelings through prayer, we open our hearts to God with a spiritual conversation. To me, it is like talking to a family member in the same room. “Hey God, I have a heavy burden and I need to share it with you.” I want to pray not only when prayer is needed but when prayer is a form of sharing and expressing. When my son leaves to drive back to Atlanta, I pray for him. When I visit my Mother in the retirement home, I pray for her. Prayer has become a daily activity and necessity. The day does not feel complete without it.

Whether you pray alone or pray out loud in a group, it is such a valuable message to God. It connects our lives with God’s purpose for us. We often ask for guidance, wisdom, understanding, healing, patience and gratefulness. It is important to me to always thank God for his presence in our lives and for the many gifts he has given me and my family. Sometimes I feel like I am on life’s treadmill and the machine is going faster and faster and it is difficult to keep up. But it helps to take the time to reflect, meditate and pray.

Prayer may be the best stress reliever we have. What prayer can do for our physical, mental and emotional health is pretty astounding not to mention our spiritual health. Many times my prayers are not very eloquent or even not well thought out. But, the fact that they are heartfelt and well-intended gives me comfort and, I believe, is just fine with God.

I think that prayer is the great connector. We have an opportunity to praise God for his goodness, to ask for his forgiveness, to pray for someone in need, to forgive us of our sins, thank him for the gifts he has given us and to keep us safe. Whatever the reason, God is there for us and is always ready to listen.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

What is the profile of today's leader?

The discussion around leadership and what it takes to be a good leader occurs every single day. What are the qualities and expectations of today’s leaders verse those in the past?

First, we must recognize that we live in a very different world today. There are many challenges facing today’s leaders that were not “in play” even five years ago. Jobs are being outsourced, technology and information are instantly accessible and competition is no longer “down the street,” but it is worldwide.

So, leaders today in both the nonprofit and for profit sector have to deal with a lot of variables. For example, raising money or making revenue on the Internet has become a fascinating phenomenon. Leaders have to be much more sophisticated and technologically savvy individuals.

However, leaders today do not have to be a lot different in other ways. There are certain core qualities that are needed to be a successful leader no matter where you are leading and what decade you are leading in.

Here are my top ten core qualities of a leader of an organization:

1. Leaders must build trust with their staff and board or they will never be able to lead at the maximum level.

2. Leaders must be extraordinary communicators. They must communicate effectively with individuals, internal and external stakeholders.

3. Leaders should be humble leaders and, as my grandmother would say, never get “too big for their britches.” Lead by example and knowledge and not by using a heavy hand. Always be fair and sensitive to others.

4. A leader does not spend his or her time being consumed with managing processes and systems. That is management. A leader sees the big picture and provides the strategic thinking needed to take the organization to a different level.

5. Leadership is a combination of ever changing and moving parts. A leader must be flexible, adaptable and accepting of change.

6. A good leader does not have all the answers. There are a lot of great ideas and bright minds that can give great advice and make useful suggestions.

7. A good leader must be willing to get down in the trenches and understand the organization from the ground up. There should be no job too big or too small for a good leader.

8. A good leader should be consistent in their demeanor, attitude and style.

9. A good leader needs to be a good listener. We all grow from listening and learning, no matter who is talking.

10. The leader must always be unselfish and put the mission first. It should never be about the individual leader but that leader is a conduit to success within the overall organization.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Wisdom

As I think about the “doom and gloom” that faces all of us today, I ask myself “what went wrong?” We find ourselves in such a complicated mess that I think the answer to this question is unachievable, at least, in a single response.

To me, it is a combination of many things that has put this nation, our economy and our future at risk. Furthermore, there is an overarching theme that can apply to the problems that have occurred.

“We have lost our moral compass and our wisdom.” We have become a self-centered, greedy and “instant gratification” society and we are now paying the price for it. It starts in our families and transcends into our schools, businesses, government and financial markets. Moreover, I don’t think we as a society, both individually and collectively, are a bit happier today because of our narcissism. I think we are more frustrated and less satisfied. I think we have created a society full of segregated egos and self-indulgence that overshadows the good things people do in society, and there are many people doing good things. And though there are plenty of these wonderful altruistic people in the world, it seems they are in the minority today.

So what is our moral compass? It is the God given wisdom and virtues that each of us possess in our hearts, minds and souls. It is starting every single day not thinking about what I am going to do for myself but what difference can I make in the world in which I live. Can it be that simple? Well, if we all get up tomorrow and our goal is to be honest, unselfish, virtuous, collaborative and sensitive, would it be different than how we viewed our day today? I say “yes.”

I also think if we were a society of people and not things we would be better off. We have become a people of computers, Blackberry’s, cell phones, video games, I-Pods, Tom-Toms, laptops, etc., and I don’t think it has made us any wiser or more moral. I wish we were more about talking face-to-face with people and making more of an effort to simply listen and interact with others “live and in person.” We are a smarter and more sophisticated society today with access to information instantly, but are we wiser? I am not sure that we are.

We must prioritize our lives and make it important to spend quality time with our families, help our neighbors and fellow citizens and do the right thing for others--even if it means personal sacrifice. I believe it is the only real way we will truly recover from the mess we are in. We must be willing to sacrifice and get away from our self-serving greedy attitudes. If we don’t, I truly believe we can expect, and maybe deserve, more doom and gloom in the future.

It is the wisdom and sensibility that exists in each of us that can guide us through these difficult times and make all of our lives more meaningful and, yes, happier.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.