A Man Who Has a Heart Larger Than a Stock Report

In our society today we hear quite a bit of those who have risen to success and in doing so give some back in return of their success. I was channel surfing the other night and happen to catch the Glenn Beck show and generally expecting governmental and economic analogies this one seemed a little of the regular path.
The gentleman he was speaking with was Jon Huntsman, Sr. and as I listened to the show I was intrigued by the words of Mr. Huntsman as he spoke of one of my favorite topics which was charity.

While listening to the show I immediately started searching on line for more information about Jon Huntsman, Sr. What I found was nothing short of amazing with regards to Huntsman's life and his success.

Jon Huntsman, Sr. born (Jon Meade Huntsman) in 1937 in the town of Blackfoot, Idaho was a true story of rags to riches. Huntsman made it through poverty and onto the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Business at the Wharton School.

Huntsman's professional life started out at Dow Chemicals and later he moved into a political window as a staff member under the Nixon Administration then he went on to create his own business in 1971 Huntsman Container and later became the founder of Huntsman Chemical which grew to a multi-billion dollar business as well placing him on Forbes 400. Though Huntsman's business ventures have been very successful for him there are a couple of other aspects of his life truly more rewarding to him than his business accomplishments,

If a person could rate their life in success the hands down first would have to be their family and spiritual values followed by any success in business. As the family of Jon Huntsman, Sr. could go he has shared a life of 50 years with his wife Karen. From 50 years they have been blessed with 9 children and over 70 grandchildren this is truly of any measure a successful life with in it's self.

Huntsman's spiritual life would seem to be a very large part of his overall persona as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served as Mission President in Washington DC from 1981 to 1983. Huntsman has truly achieved many successes with in his life but a true success which captured me is one of this man distinguishing his material success to his charitable accomplishments.

Huntsman, Sr. has became quite a Philanthropist and one part of his giving which truly inspires me was his co-founding of the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City which rightfully so holds a favorite quote from Huntsman which states "Selfless giving unto others represents one's true wealth." This to me is a wonderful contribution to the forward success in cancer research. Huntsman has truly achieved a giving reputation which follows him being ranked as the 47th richest man alive. In 2000 Time magazine ranked him as the sixth largest philanthropist in the United States. To follow himself in 2007 Huntsman gave $750 million dollars in contributions and donations which placed him 2nd in The Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of the nation's top 50 givers. I realize that I have "tooted" Jon Huntsman's horn for him but in the process of typing this article I could not help but listen as Huntsman spoke with Beck and recalled the disaster of the stock market which followed 9/11.

Huntsman was recalling that during the stock market plunge following 9/11 a great concern of his was how would he hold up his self committed charitable obligations as many corporations including his own were feeling a tremendous hit in the fall of investments and deteriorating stocks. As he spoke Huntsman said he knew of only one chance he had to keep his obligation to those who depended on his contributions. He had went to a couple of large New York banks and had requested a loan. According to Huntsman the banks had no problem loaning on another business venture for him but to loan money in regard to turning around and giving it away there was no possible way for any bank to loan to such a cause.

As I watched his interview what he said next was anything if extraordinary. Huntsman did the only thing he said he could do. He requested a personal loan and as collateral he placed his home and stocks up. One can only think that this line of unselfishness thinking proves that he lives as he speaks and his word is truly his honor.

I cannot speak for all, as for myself this is truly a blessing that a person regardless of any fame or fortune will sacrifice the value of materialistic to accomplish his promise of charity. Regardless of your belief it truly emphasizes Christ's words "The greatest of these is charity." So for myself I say to Mr. Jon Huntsman, Sr. Thank You for your giving and as an example that life holds more gifts in giving than in receiving.