My parents modeled great generosity and giving on a social service level. It must just have been in my bones. I am not a person who needed a lot of fancy toys or expensive investments to fulfill me. So I was very happy to use my resources that way. And Alex is getting his money back.
Payments do include some interest.
Beamer would have liked to have more inflationary factors figured in, but considered that unrealistic based on the community's economic capacity, and the fact he invested more money than he originally anticipated. Better planning might have produced a different outcome, he notes. Generally people are not expert enough in the areas of finance and entrepreneurial ventures to understand the total implications. Another part of Alex Beamer's vision has also manifested. He is recycling his capital into another community-oriented business, a natural foods store and community center in Salem, Oregon, which opened in late 1994.