On May 28, 2023, Robert Hale Jr ’84 delivered the commencement speech at Deerfield Academy. He gave each member of the graduating class of 2023 $1,000 to donate in what was deemed “an electrifying commencement ceremony” by Tucker Gongaware ’26. Mr. Hale, founder and CEO of Granite Telecommunications as well as part-owner of the Boston Celtics, has been one of the Academy’s most generous donors, donating both the Hale family gym and the golf simulator, among others, at Deerfield.
Due to his daughter’s graduation, Head of School John Austin was unable to attend the commencement ceremony. Subsequently, Mr. Hale jokingly referred to himself as the “JV commencement speaker.” As a Deerfield graduate whose three children attended Deerfield, he spoke about topics closely related to home. Mr. Hale fondly recounted his Deerfield days four decades ago, making fun of his bad grades and humiliating course comments to encourage Deerfield students to embrace the full experience of high school that isn’t just academics and athletics. Mr. Hale read some of his course comments which showcased his academic shortcomings, and said that “the ones I chose were the better ones out of the bunch.” Mr. Hale also poked fun at his athletic career, noting that although he has donated the Hale Family Gym to Deerfield, he was cut from the JV basketball team his senior year.
Nevertheless, he went on to have a successful business career and became one of the foremost philanthropists in the world. As a person who has spoken at formal events many times in his life, Mr. Hale said, “I find that humor is often what makes people listen, and the easiest target is myself, so self-deprecating humor is the most effective, considering my checkered Deerfield career.” Clara Chae ’23 said that Mr. Hale’s approach resonated with her, saying, “Mr. Hale’s speech was funny and entertaining.”
Mr. Hale noted the increasingly competitive nature at today’s schools in general, and Deerfield in particular, saying that “students who don’t get into the most selective schools look at themselves as failures.” However, he said that “as long as one doesn’t stop trying, they are anything but a failure.” He maintained that his struggles were the necessary stepping stones to prepare him to overcome the adversities down the road. Mr. Hale said, “Failures only make a person stronger,” and in his philosophy, “fear of failure only leads to failure.”
The part of Mr. Hale’s address that provoked the greatest reaction from his audience was when he announced that he would give each member of the class of 2023 $1000 to donate to a charity of their choice. Mr. Hale, who has received the Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award for his charitable gifts to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and has personally donated over $280 million, said that he did this because he wanted the Deerfield graduates to get a similar taste of philanthropy. Mr. Hale said that every time he contributes to an organization he cares about, he feels that he “is the primary beneficiary of the gift.” Therefore, he wants the graduating class to share the joy of helping others.
Mr. Hale’s love for giving started during his junior year at Deerfield Academy, saying, “The East Hampton basketball shootout was my first taste of philanthropy.” During this event, Mr. Hale was shooting basketballs into the hoop to raise money, gaining his first impressions of philanthropy and falling in love with it since. Now, 40 years later, Mr. Hale is paying it forward by having the class of 2023 pay it forward. Will Richards ’23 plans to donate to the Hole in the Wall Foundation. Richards said, “It’s a really good cause that allows children with terminal cancer to experience sleepaway camp.” In addition, Chae is teaming up with other Deerfield students and pooling their money to help “fund a scholarship for a Dominican student to come to Deerfield.” Instead of just giving away money to a good cause, Mr. Hale has entrusted his money to the Senior Class, whose over 180 members will support up-and-coming organizations to do a little more good in the world.
As both an alumnus and parent of alums, Mr. Hale has deep ties to the Deerfield community and knows that each student has unique skills to offer. Consequently, Mr. Hale emphasized that taking an initiative and supporting an organization does not start with money. Instead, Mr. Hale advises students to “offer their sets of skills and talents, and above all time.” Lastly, Mr. Hale offered one piece of advice for current Deerfield students: “to make the most of their Deerfield days.” He encouraged everyone to have fun and fully appreciate one’s high school experience “as it doesn’t last for very long” and to not treat every “failure as a failure.” Mr. Hale believes that “every Deerfield student has talents and skills” and that by applying them in the right areas, “they can change the world for the better.”