Recently Ohio Valley University honored Joyce and Gene Wharton. Universities often name buildings or schools after successful business people. As founders of Charton Management, which includes a construction piece and franchise of 24 Burger King Restaurants, the Wharton family did their business well. But in this case the family had another business.
They worked in the business of doing good. Such undertakings have no financial statements, no yearly audits, no return on investment calculators. The business of doing good included beneficiaries like these:
- Young people who got their start in life because they were hired at Burger King
- People in Central America who became Christians because of a campaigner who was funded by the Whartons
- Several orphans from the James Place Orphanage in India supported by their family
- People who stayed in their garage apartment for free for months on end
- Folks who needed some cash, and maybe never got around to paying it back
- Many OVU students who were able to come to a private Christian university because of the Wharton family
Gene and Joyce Wharton made a life of the business of doing good, serving those who needed help, promoting good causes, being the kinds of people that make a community a good place to live.
Generosity breeds generosity. Committed people challenge all of us to care more, risk more, dream more, and expect more.
Planning to go into business? Try the business of doing good.