Benson Riseman had no idea that growing up in the impoverished town of Chelsea, outside of Boston, and losing his dad when he was 6 would have such a profound effect on his life.
There are many worthy causes, but Riseman says his sweet spot is helping disadvantaged kids like he once was. Besides supporting local nonprofits, the Riseman Family Foundation supports the Riseman Family Theater in Chelsea, where inner-city kids participate in full-cale youth productions including Shakespeare, as well as Venice Arts in California, which aims to ignite creativity in kids at risk.
Riseman also sits on the board of UT and often returns to his alma mater to mentor students and provide scholarships. He says the true value of a person is not the check you write. There are many ways to make a difference, including giving your time and effort to a cause you are passionate about.
