During the deluge of rain September 4 people gathered under a grand tent in the parking lot outside of Brown Center to honor Stella and Charles Royce with the Aquinas College Reflection Award.Each year Aquinas College chooses a person or couple that clearly reflects the values of commitment, vision, service, loyalty and integrity.

Though the rains came up, the group gathered to honor the Royces stuck out the weather, even when a small river of water began to run under the sheltering tent making all in attendance thankful for both the tent and thick shoes.

The Royces are clearly community leaders serving on numerous boards and foundations, namely Grand Rapids Rotary Club, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Opera Grand Rapids and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, to name a few.

Going on a short stroll through the city, one is bound to notice the Royce name on some building or appended to a dedicatory plaque. When in 2001, the Royces received the Donald J. Porter Humanitarian Award the YMCA said, “Their generosity and involvement is evident in every major visual and performing arts institution in [Grand Rapids].”

Patrick Miles, the night’s Master of Ceremonies and Chair of the Aquinas College Board of Trustees, opened the night and introduced the evening’s speakers. Dylana Jenson, wife of Grand Rapids Symphony conductor David Lockington, spoke first congratulating the Royces and recalling when “Chuck” would tell David, “you have a green light” on various projects.

The second anecdotal speaker was Laura Berman of the grand Rapids Ballet, and finally Charlie Royce, son of Charles and Stella, spoke about growing up as a child of such driven and principled people.

Through the night, the rain never stopped, and jokes were leveled thanking the Dominican Sisters for the wonderful weather.

The story of Stella and Charles Royce proves again that dedicated people can effectively change the lives of so many, and as so many were thankful for the protective tent, the people gathered clearly recognized the immense gift of philanthropy which surrounds them.