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I want to tell you about a man I’ve known all my life. At least it feels that way because of the powerful influence he has had on me.

He is what we used to call “a man of means.” Today he would be called rich, not among the 1%, but close to it.

Yet he is a very generous man, more so than anybody I have ever known. Yes, he lives comfortably, and wants for nothing, but he also uses his good fortune to help others.

He pays his company executives a very good salary without being extravagant, and his workers a fair wage with benefits, including healthcare. And he’s gone on record in support of wealthy people paying higher taxes, much to the chagrin of several members of his large family.

An educated man, he helped a returning W.W. II vet go to college, and after that worked out well he decided to help as many young people as he could to do the same thing. He doesn’t pay for their college, he loans them the money, but with no interest. Once again, some family members don’t like the no interest part. They think he is being irresponsible, but he refuses to make money off of kids wanting to get an education.

He has also invested money in helping some people start small businesses. One man I happen to know about was trying to get money to have his own auto repair shop. This man was willing to back him and five years later the garage is doing a good business. All this in addition to the support he provides to his favorite charities.

There is so much more I could tell you about this wonderful man, but you’ve heard enough to understand the context for my worry about him. He’s not sick physically, but he is spiritually, at least that’s how I would put it. I don’t mean he needs God in his life. It’s more a matter of going through a period of doubting himself, of wondering if he should continue doing what he’s been doing for so many years. His spirits are very low at the moment.

I can’t help but think those members of his family who seem relentless in their efforts to get him to stop, in their words, “giving money away,” have begun to wear him down. He has controlling interests in the family business, and there was a time when they all seemed to be on the same page. But now some of them want the family to vote to eliminate the company’s community outreach funds as a way to stop him.

Friction in the family has become intense. Some of them have started using very harsh words to criticize what he is doing. I can see the effect all of this is having on this good man. He has tried his best to teach by example that everybody needs help, that he himself would never be where he is without the people who helped him, and that almost all the people he has helped are now paying it forward, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

You can never know for sure what someone is thinking or feeling, but I have no doubt that the attitude of some members of this man’s family has hurt him deeply. Frankly, I think they’ve broken his heart.

Yet I don’t know what to do to help him. I’m one of those he has helped, but I feel so inadequate in returning the favor. I am really worried about him.

So I decided to share his story. And even though I didn’t ask for permission to do so, I’m going to take the risk of telling you who he is because I think you ought to know.

His name is America.