A Responsibility to Future Generations

My life’s never taken a predictable path, so the idea that, at age 34, I might want to establish an endowed scholarship in my father’s name didn’t seem that remarkable to me. I’m amazed that more people who have success in business don’t make it a priority to give back to the institutions that helped get them where they are. I did it in part to honor my father’s memory, but really I wanted to help other students like me.

When my father passed away, we learned we’d lose his full death benefit if I wasn’t enrolled in college. So at 16 I dropped out of high school and enrolled in community college. That year, I took my portfolio to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), was accepted, and I transferred at age 17. I had no idea how expensive it would be. The College sheltered me from that somewhat, and I’m grateful for the help they gave me — a MICA scholarship, and lists of places to apply for more aid. I won an Ad Association of Baltimore scholarship that included an internship and senatorial scholarships. Every year, I applied to the Moose Lodge, the Elks Lodge — any place that offered money for school.

At MICA, if you prove yourself, they will stand behind you. They believed in and invested in my talent. I also worked hard, of course. I had jobs and started picking up freelance graphic design work. By my second year at MICA I had already started the business that became Brook Group.

When I decided to establish the scholarship, I wrote to everyone in my address book, asking them to participate, and I was surprised at how many people said they don’t see themselves as philanthropists. I know many people my age didn’t realize that they could make these kinds of gifts. I appreciated all who have helped — and continue to help — build the endowment. I think it’s important that people like me get involved and make significant gifts to support our priorities.

When you give it always comes back to you — not that that’s why you do it. Doing for others is just another way of raising the bar for yourself. For me this scholarship was a way to be there for MICA because MICA was there for me. I felt I had a responsibility to give future generations of students the opportunity to study at MICA because others had done that for me.

Kara Brook ’86 is principal of Brook Group, LTD, a full service Web publishing firm based in Ellicott City, Maryland. She established the Reuben Brook Memorial Scholarship in 1999, through a combination of gifts to build the endowment fund and annual gifts to begin awarding the scholarship while the endowment grows. In addition to Kara’s personal contributions, the continually increasing endowment has received tribute and memorial gifts from friends and family members.