This issue marks the end of an era, an era known as Foundation News & Commentary. As From the Council presents in more detail on page 4, the Council on Foundations is discontinuing publication of this magazine to rethink its content and direction, and will reintroduce a new flagship publication next spring.

I thought it befitting to invite longtime former Executive Editor Jody Curtis (my boss for ten years) to write a retrospective on the magazine's journey from its 1960 debut, to its 2006 close (see "Full Circle and Final Bow," p. 10). After reading her article, I wanted to give the magazine a hand. Of course, I meant a round of applause, but the hand image transfixed me.

I am grateful for the incredibly gifted and talented professionals like Curtis I have been privileged to work with, learn from and befriend the magazine staff—Sadie O. Fitzhugh, Paula J. Kelly, Sunshine Janda Overkamp, Heather Peeler, Arlie W. Schardt, Lisa Schnabel, Darlene M. Siska, Camille Tilley, Leslie Welch and Mary Ann Zehr. As this was my first full-time job out of college, there was some hand holding, a hand spank here and there, and a lot of hand-wringing from all of us around deadlines.

Yet, with extra helping hands over the years from editors Erica Avery, Clint Chadbourne, Julia K. Goodwin and Phyllis Jask, numerous interns and countless insightful contributors from the field, we always got FN&C done, and, hopefully, in your eyes, well. When I was going through the bound volumes of the publication back to 1960 to pick out covers to highlight, I kept trying to formulate a list of the articles that stuck out most in my memory.

But, after more than 13 years and 75 issues, it wasn't articles and titles that stuck out, but people and relationships built during that time. I used my relationship with Paul DiDonato and and Vic Tolentino to help realize a personal goal of devoting an entire issue of FN&C to Facing AIDS. That is my favorite cover. Something about the caressing hands conveys warmth, concern and healing.

Other relationships like those gave me the upper hand in making repeat and/or last-minute requests for editorial contributions. Several names on our final table of contents—Emmett D. Carson, James A. Joseph, Lynn Huntley and Victoria McGovern—reflect the use (or abuse, smile) of that privilege.

My favorite memories are of traveling to all corners of the United States and the Caribbean to interview grantmakers—Boston for Anna Faith Jones, San Francisco for Steve McGarvey, Miami for Irene Diamond and even Anguilla for Carrolle Perry Devonish. My love affair with Puerto Rico began in 1999 when I was dispatched to interview former Puerto Rico Community Foundation President Ethel Rios de Betancourt, whom I consider affectionately my Puerto Rican grandma. Years later, while on vacation there, I was even called out on the street by her successor, Nelson Colón, and offered access to one of the family cars by Yarice Hidalgo.

I've also attended countless Council conferences for the magazine everywhere from Hawaii (TWICE) to Canada. And, despite the incredibly long days worked by Council staff to make everything look effortless, familiar member faces ready with big smiles, tight hugs and warm handshakes always made it worthwhile. I originally composed a list of those very persons to recount here, but surely didn't want to offend anyone through inadvertent omission. Recently I was on medical leave for a month after suffering a massive heart attack—yes, for those of you doing the math, even at my young age—and I was very surprised and touched to hear from members like Emmett and Jackie Copeland-Carson, Handy and Kristin Lindsey, Ani Hurwitz, Bettye Brentley, Joy Thomas Moore, Cathy Grantham, Nicole Howe Buggs, Phillipa Taylor and the communications staff of the Heinz Endowments during my convalescence.

Yet, why was I surprised? I've spent this time learning that's what philanthropy's all about—building relationships and partnerships and offering a hand up, out and over whatever circumstances depress, suppress, or oppress. This has truly been a journey—one that will not end here, with my time at the Council coming to a close at the end of October.

The Council's just had a hand in pointing me in the right direction. For, as composer Ira Stanphill wrote, "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; but I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand."