Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility In late 2022, VBSR, Vermont, and our global changemaker movement lost two very bright stars.
As we were penning a remembrance of beloved founding Board member Bruce Seifer, VBSR received the news that Will Raap had passed, sending a wake of shock, reflection, and gratitude through our community and the many others that these two outstanding leaders touched.
Both Bruce and Will had a tremendous impact on VBSR and our work to leverage business as a force for good.
They shaped individuals, businesses, communities, and our broader movement, and losing them has left a gaping hole in both our hearts and our collective work.
In 2021, Will questioned me in his characteristic style: “Where is the next generation of business leaders?”
In 2022, inspired in part by Will’s challenge, VBSR launched our Expanding Our Movement Fund to bring new voices and greater access to our movement to revolutionize business in Vermont. This includes free and discounted programming and memberships for students, start-ups, and business leaders who have been historically marginalized, and leadership development for the next generation of values-led business leaders.
With the passing of Bruce and Will, the work of expanding our movement has taken on greater depth and urgency. Individually, and collectively as VBSR, we carry them with us as we gratefully steward their legacy and the next generation.
- Roxanne Vought, Executive Director
In recent months we have collected remembrances from VBSR members and friends. These are people who knew Bruce Seifer and Will Raap well – as peers, as mentors, as business partners, as friends. We are thankful for their thoughtful contributions to a collection of memories and gratitudes. We do not consider this a static memorial – if you have thoughts about one or both of these leaders you would like to share, please contact us.
Read Roxanne's full statement and the gracious remembrances of others by clicking below.
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