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- CEO Robert Hale Jr. spoke at UMass Dartmouth's commencement ceremony on Thursday.
- The telecom billionaire gave each graduate two $500 payments.
- Hale gifted the second $500 payment on the condition it goes to charity or someone in need.
A billionaire gifted graduating students at UMass Dartmouth with "envelopes full of cash" totaling $1,000.
Robert Hale Jr., the CEO of Granite Telecommunications, made the announcement during the school's commencement ceremony on Thursday. The school shared a video of the ceremony online, showing the moment Hale told the 1,200 graduates and their families.
"These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring and giving," Hale said. "Our community needs you and your generosity more than ever."