Quiet generosity merits bold thanks

Nearly two years ago, Newport Beach’s Monica and David Gelbaum came out from inside the shadows.

Against their will, the two were revealed as the donors of some $20 million to Newport-Mesa schools over a 10-year period. “The people are saints, whoever it is,” Ensign Intermediate School Principal Ed Wong said at the time, expressing a common feeling. “All the stuff they’ve been doing for the kids in the Newport-Mesa school district for years and years. I mean, the stuff that’s not consumable should be around for years to follow, and this has helped education for many children. More power to them. God bless them.”

With such compliments made about them, is it hard to believe that $20 million wasn’t the only donation they were handing out ? again without any fanfare?

It comes as no surprise that earlier this month another gift of Gelbaum generosity was revealed. At the Save Our Youth annual scholarship breakfast, the man behind donations totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars spoke for the first time.

In Newport-Mesa, philanthropy is an almost expected part of community involvement. There are Crean branch libraries, Merage business schools, Gross hospital buildings and Bren buildings. The generosity of people too numerous to count is a core reason that life here is so privileged and so profound. The accolades and applause these people receive is absolutely deserved.

Still, there is something especially pure about an anonymous gift. It is selfless generosity, a quality the Gelbaums have in great quantity.

“He’s my idea of a real philanthropist, who gives from the heart and doesn’t look for recognition,” Share Our Selves founder Jean Forbath said. “There are no plaques on the wall, no buildings named after him. He really knows what philanthropy is.”

Newport-Mesa is a far better place because David and Monica Gelbaum know what philanthropy is.