Giving Is Good for the Soul:
The Life and Legacy of Charles and Shirley Weiss

by Grace Camblos
Commissioned by The Graduate School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Charles and Shirley Weiss have created a lasting legacy—as teachers, researchers, world travelers, and philanthropists. These life experiences informed one of the most important decisions of their lives together—to create a fellowship program that would give graduate students the opportunity to learn differently and to improve the quality of life in their communities.

To honor the 20th anniversary of the Weiss Urban Livability Program, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School commissioned a biography to share the story of the Weisses' remarkable journey together. Giving Is Good for the Soul: The Life and Legacy of Charles and Shirley Weiss covers their intellectual interests, professional and personal achievements and—most important of all—their appetite for sharing everything they learned and received for the good of others. They lived their lives with the belief that giving was as good for the giver as it was for the recipient. Their life story bears witness to this truth.

View photos from the book release event

View or download chapters from Giving Is Good for the Soul:

  1. Book Cover and Forewordpdf icon
  2. Chapter 1: Budding Interests, Growing Possibilitiespdf icon
  3. Chapter 2: When Charles Met Shirleypdf icon
  4. Chapter 3: Beginning Their Journey Togetherpdf icon
  5. Chapter 4: Chapel Hill Becomes Homepdf icon
  6. Chapter 5: The Bright Road Aheadpdf icon
  7. Chapter 6: Making the Moments Countpdf icon
  8. Chapter 7: An Idea on a Napkinpdf icon
  9. Chapter 8: Creating a Lasting Legacypdf icon
  10. Epilogue: The Legacy of Charles and Shirley Weiss, Appendix, and Endnotespdf icon