CINDY ATHA SHIRA SIMCHA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT at THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON

She inspired me. And I just wanted you to know.

Thanks!

Joe Bentley

CINDY ATHA SHIRA SIMCHA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT at THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON

APPENDIX ONE to the Cindy Atha Shira Simcha "PAY IT FORWARD" Scholarship

I am writing this appendix to provide information to those who will administer this scholarship, and to those who will be the recipients of this scholarship. I simply want to explain my reasons for giving this money for this purpose. I hope that by sharing this with you, it will enable you to feel more confident that you are administering this fund in a manner that I would hope. And if you are a recipient of this scholarship, I hope to instill within you something more meaningful than gratitude.

I have named this scholarship the Cindy Atha Shira Simcha "PAY IT FORWARD" Scholarship, in honor of my dear friend. The first part of her name is the one she was given as a child, and is the name that I have known for so long. The second part is an additional name that she chose for herself later in life. It is Hebrew, and means Joyful Song. The last part of the scholarship name is a motto, or concept, which I will explain later.

If it were not for Cindy, I would not be making this gift, creating this scholarship. If it were not for Cindy, my life would likely still be undirected and without purpose. If not for Cindy, I would still be focused upon my own needs, and not really concerned about the whole world of people that surrounds us all.

But because of Cindy's friendship I underwent a profound change in my life. I will never be the same person I once was. I now see the world around me as never before. And I want to make some contribution that will be truly helpful. I believe that this scholarship, and the way that I have structured it, will go a long ways towards accomplishing that goal.

I wish I could share with you the ideas that are behind the changes in my life, and the hopes that are embodied in this gift. But it is far too complex to explain. But there is one concept that I can share to give some explanation. It is a concept of sharing that Cindy often espouses in both her personal and professional life. The concept comes from her heart, and she encourages everyone to embrace it. I am attempting to do precisely that.

Cindy has helped so many people throughout her life in so many ways. Often the help she gave was of such impact in the lives of others that the gratitude they felt towards her was immense. But Cindy is always quick to redirect their gratitude in a manner that would be far more powerful and have much greater impact. She tells them, "Pay it forward!"

Cindy borrowed this phrase from a motion picture entitled Pay It Forward, which was based upon a highly acclaimed novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde. (There is even now a Pay It Forward Foundation.) I encourage you all to read this novel, or to view the video in order to better understand the concept of "paying it forward."

Paying it forward means to look beyond yourself, and beyond your everyday world. Look around you for opportunities where you can help someone who truly NEEDS help. It is easy and expected that we pay back those who help us. But to pay it forward, to help those to whom we owe nothing, and in whose lives our help could make a huge difference, that is freely accepting responsibility for making our world a better place in which to live.

To all recipients of this scholarship, do not thank me. Rather, understand that this gift comes from love, which is eternal and bigger than us all. And if you truly feel gratitude in your heart, look for your own opportunities to PAY IT FORWARD as you live each day, and for the rest of your life.

With LOVE!

Joe Bentley