The American Tradition of “Giving Back“

Americans have a great tradition of charity and the belief that it is the role of those of us who have prospered to help the less fortunate. It is our further belief that this role belongs to us, not the government.

Malcolm and Christina have always prioritized helping others, contibuting to such diverse organizatons as our churches, the salvation army, community food banks, and those groups who assist the abused.

Their giving has cast a wider net. Some specific recent gifts have included:

The Medal of Honor Society. The great heroes of America are its medal of honor recipients, those who have paid with their own blood our right to be free.

The Medal of Honor Society has a great book, chronicling their acts of sacrifice and heroism on the battle field, along with their pictures.

Malcolm and Christina donated a copy of this book to all of the high school librarys in Rhode Island that our young might learn about America’s greatest. Along with good friends, Mike and Deanie Underwood, they also donated the Medal of Honor book to all of the junior high and high school librarys in Colorado.

Malcolm and Christina have also been a part of a dinner event on the floor of the New York stock exchange, as leading business individuals hosted all of America’s living medal of honor recipients.

The man in the middle is John Finn, our country’s oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. Malcolm and Christina donated the money to restore that Pearl Harbor car and John now rides in it in July 4 parades.

Those of you who have seen any one of the many movies about Pearl Harbor, the day that will live in infamy, there is always a man who is in his barracks when the bombing begins. Then jumps into his car and drives to his gun battery and begins firing at the attacking enemy. That man is John Finn, our country’s oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. Malcolm and Christina donated the money to restore that Pearl Harbor car and John now rides in it in July 4 parades.

Rhode Island has been working to restore the battle ship Saratoga to utilize as an event venue, again to honor our great men and women in the service. Malcolm and Christina have been key donors in that endeavor.

In Newport Rhode Island, along the side of the ocean, America’s best known entreprenuers and captains of industry, names like Astor and Vanderbilt, built mansions more than a hundred years ago. The Newport Preservation Society has done a wonderful job of restoring these monuements of history, and Christina and Malcolm have again been large donors to an organization that has preserved America’s history for America’s families to enjoy.

Malcolm and Christina were also large contributors to the Island Moving Dance Company. They were featured in the  September issue of the Newport News as principal supporters of the annual event for the Island Moving Company Dance Company, which was held at the Doris Duke Mansion.

Ours is a great country, a brave and generous people who have shown freedom’s holy light to the world. It is important that we honor those who have nourished the American spirit and share with our young, the roots from which they have come.

Community Participations

Over the course of his life, Malcolm has invested much of his time in community centric activities these have included:

• Southern and American Baptist Church pastor (15 years)
• Member of Baptist State Boards in both Indiana and Colorado
• Presbyterian elder
• Board president for sheltered workshop for the handicapped
• Board member of county mental health committee
• Philharmonic board member
• Board member of county credit bureau
• Board member to manage county pension funds
• President of county chapter of Ducks Unlimited
• Board member of information and referral agency
• College fund raising
• Kiwanian and Rotarian

This list is not inclusive of all of his community involvements, but representative of his time commitment to serving others.