GENROZT (n) "a gracious act that creates a joyful ache every time it is remembered" Stephen Kahnert has distilled 30 years of fundraising expertise into this book on the lasting impact gracious acts have on recipients. He captures the generous spirits and exceptional actions of people as diverse as the founder of a world reknown theatre company and a beloved Latin teacher ... a grandmother walking the Underground Railroad and a Quaker college that welcomes an ex-fighter pilot. professor. GENROZT includes 10 ten chapters by the author, one by a quartet of his friends who answered his question "Whose gracious act to you do you most recall?", plus 29 elementary school scholars at his youngest sons' Our Lady of Destiny School in Des Plaines, IL. Stephen calls readers to rekindle and write out, then buy a stamp and mail the GENROZT that has been etched on their lives. Not only to remember, but also to honor the individual who made that profound difference. No emails. No tweets. Read his book then become part of the movement. The time has come! Share your personal story at stories@generosity-GENROZT.com "...Will be found on the desks of fundraisers and public relations officers, college Presidents and their volunteer leaders ...My hope is that this book will inspire others to have the courage to express their generous selves..." Alice B. Hayes, President (Ret.) University of San Diego "In this collection, Stephen has presented us role models, a "storied: approach to our spiritual selves, and a means toward self-mastery." Dave Hilliard, President & CEO, Wyman Center in St. Louis and The Wyman National Network
About the Author: After 30 years in fundraising and 2,500 face to face major gift conversations helping raise over $200 million, Stephen Kahnert is certain of two things: everyone has a story about the generosity that marked their life; no one will tell that story unless you ask, and then listen. Really listen. Stephen traces his storytelling to his mom, Rita, who did a fabulous job listening to the hearts of her seven sons-plus one. Stephen has four sons. His wife, Sheila, has a key leadership role at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Stephen is a graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit College School in Toronto, and took an honours degree in English Language & Literature at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. (Marshall "The Medium is the Message" McLuhan was one of his professors.) His life's highlights include: bring founding member of the Toronto Sherlock Holmes club, The Bootmakers; having his reflection on Lincoln as a hockey player accepted into the archives of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, IL; receiving the top award given by Canada's largest radio station, CFRB, from the hands of acclaimed broadcaster Gordon Sinclair. (Stephen spent the summer of 1971 finding, listening to, writing up, and then voicing on-air stories of good news.) His career includes consulting and executive staff roles in nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada, as well as roles in corporate marketing, television production, and public relations. Stephen has two goals for his first book "generosity-GENROZT": 1. to inspire millions to recall the gracious act that marked their life, then write it out, then mail it to The One (our world could use more gratitude). 2. to then get work groups to begin every agenda with a few attendees recounting their GENROZT memory. With everyone listening. (our discourse needs a starting point of everyone of us as a recipient of at least one gracious, generous act).