Chapter 11 - Anatole Resigns as Chair
My father surprised everyone.
He resigned as foundation chair.
Not from the family.
Not from business.
From the charity board.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I failed.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I also built a board where too much depended on family trust.”
That was more accurate.
The board had:
Anatole.
Violetta.
Two family cousins.
Our longtime accountant.
Three independent community members.
Technically diverse.
Culturally deferential.
Violetta was the daughter of the founder.
People rarely challenged her.
Anatole said:
“Your mother tried to build a rule-based institution. After she died, I let it become a family project again.”
The board appointed an independent interim chair.
A retired university president named Dr. Celia Warren.
She had no connection to us.
At her first meeting she said:
“The foundation’s name is Carver. The money is charitable.”
Simple.
Then:
“If the family cannot tolerate that distinction, change the name or close the organization properly. Do not confuse branding with ownership.”
May you like
My father almost smiled.
Mother would have liked her.
