Alumni Pierre (LA, '88) and Pam (LA, '89) Omidyar shared stories of meatball subs at Jay's Deli, chemistry class, and student protests with the Tufts community yesterday in a ceremony honoring the pair as the recipients of this year's Light on the Hill award. The two - who were recognized for their achievements in the areas of business and philanthropy - candidly addressed a crowd assembled in Cabot Auditorium, speaking without a prepared text and often cracking informal jokes.
Empowerment was the theme of their remarks, and both encouraged audience members to take active roles in their communities. "You should learn from what other people have done, but if they say it's impossible, don't believe them," said Mr. Omidyar, who cited the recent presidential election to emphasize the difference that one person can make.
The couple discussed their recent $10 million donation to Tufts' University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS), and praised the project for providing students with opportunities to learn about the value of active citizenship. They said that initiatives such as the Omidyar scholar program create a "leveraging effect" where students in the community are inspired to do public service by active friends.
"I would like to see not just the Omidyar scholars, but every student who passes through Tufts, leave here knowing that one person can make a difference," said Ms. Omidyar, a third generation Jumbo. She added that she is in the process of designing t-shirts with the slogan "Be an Enzyme" in order to inspire others the be catalysts for change in society.
In his introductory remarks, University President John DiBiaggio called the couple "venture-philanthropists," as their unique nonprofit Omidyar Foundation attempts to apply values from the business world to the realm of charity. Mr. Omidyar, who found success in business as the founder of the Internet auction heavyweight eBay.com, said that the organization attempts to take the operational aspects of business and apply them to management of a nonprofit organization.
Ms. Omidyar, who left a consulting job to work full time for the foundation, explained that the organization is unique in the approach it takes to solving issues faced by society. "We're trying to address the underlying causes instead of funding quick fixes," she said. "We hope that by doing that, we can make things such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters obsolete."
Giving back to the community is important, she said, because few people in the world are lucky enough to have the opportunities that a college education provides. "[College] is really one of the only places where you have four years to experiment," she said. "With an education from Tufts and with the blessed life that we have... I really felt like we had a responsibility to make a difference in this world."
The Omidyar Foundation is an active partner in the grants it makes, and its work with the recipients enables both parties to discover effective ways to run nonprofit organizations and social programs. During their visit at Tufts, the Omidyars met with administrators, faculty, and students who have been involved in UCCPS, and expressed praise with the strides the initiative has made.
The student organizers of the event praised the Omidyars as role models to students. "Pam and Pierre have searched for ways to take what they learned at Tufts University and really turn it out for the benefit of society," said Alessandro Terenzoni, co-chair of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate's Special Projects committee
"You really embody the spirit of being a Jumbo, and you serve as an example for Jumbos past, present, and future," said Moira Poe, Terenzoni's co-chair.
Light on the Hill is an annual award that honors a distinguished Tufts alumnus and alumnae. Normally, it is given in conjunction with the Rising Light on the Hill award that recognizes up-and-coming former Jumbos, but the organizers of this year's ceremony chose to award two Light on the Hill awards instead of one of each.
