We Are More Similar Than Different

John Foley recently received an honorary doctorate degree by the National University of Mexico in partnership with The Honoris Causa Foundation, presented to him at the Mexican Congress in recognition for his leadership as an ambassador of good will. The Honoris Causa Foundation is a philanthropic institution that grants the honorary title Doctor Honoris Causa to men and women who through social, educational, cultural, artistic, scientific, technological, religious initiatives or programs contribute to a better world.

Here is a transcript of John's acceptance speech:

Hola, Gracias y Estoy Feliz de Estar Aqui! Glad To Be Here!

I'm honored and deeply grateful to receive this recognition. I'd like to thank the committee and the National University of Mexico—along with the Mexican congress—for establishing this organization and supporting honorable missions around the world. I'm humbled to be selected for this award and grateful to my fellow recipients who are inspiring prosperity in Mexico and transforming the entire world.

Being here today is an incredible reminder of why I'm Glad To Be Here.

In my fellow participants and in this room,

I see hope and optimism

I see people who are building bridges, not walls

I see opportunities and dreams becoming reality

I see a world without borders, without passports, where instead of speaking in terms of nations and cultures we speak of human oneness

Where we focus on how we are more similar than different

I've been privileged to see a lot of this world

Traveled and spoken to over quarter million people on multiple continents and over 50 Countries

Leaders in business, education and governments

We are living in a beautiful time and in a wonderful world.

I recently traveled with Geshe Michael Roach and the Diamond Cutter Institute supporting their mission of bringing ancient wisdom to a modern world. I've seen first hand the impact they and Mr Wu are having on this world from Asia, Europe, South and North America. China, Mexico and all our neighbors. I am inspired how the other three awardees are empowering and making a huge difference right here in Mexico. Thank You.

I once had the rare opportunity as a Blue Angel to build a bridge between two separate worlds. It was 1992, and the cold war was just beginning to thaw. I was a member of the US Flight Demonstration Team the Blue Angels. We were given the opportunity to fly a series of air shows in the former Eastern Block and the Soviet Union. It was the first visit to Russia by a US military squadron. Performing shows in Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania we proudly flew our Blue and Gold jets right into the heart of Moscow. It was an amazing experience, getting a glimpse of life behind the iron curtain that had separated us for so long. Flying multiple performances we collaborated directly with the Russian flight demonstration team. Even with the language barrier, we began to form a deep connection. We flew eachother's jets, we went to the ballet, we attended a state dinner together and we built strong bonds of friendship and peace. It was incredible to be flying over Moscow with a Russian pilot in the back seat of my blue and gold F-18. Interacting with the Russian people and holding little kids in my arms. I'll never forget the moment as we were leaving Russia, when Valerie Minitsky—a legendary pilot and the hero of the soviet union—reached into his pocket and handed me a picture of his family. That moment changed the way I saw the world, and taught me a lesson I'll never forget: that we all are more similar than we are different. We all have similar thirst and aspirations. Joy, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness.

It’s experiences like this—bridging vast differences, having the opportunity to promote inclusion and not exclusion, to connect people and spread gratitude—that form the core of why I'm "Glad To Be Here." You may have noticed I've used that phrase a few times already. Anyone that knows me is aware that those four words, Glad To Be Here, have a deep personal meaning. It is more than a phrase we used when I was flying as a Blue Angel. It is about being grateful for all the opportunities and challenges of this precious life. It is about inspiring hope, awe, and making a positive impact in this world.

It is about being an Ambassador of Goodwill.

Glad To Be here is more than a phrase, it is a movement.

I always wanted to do something to change the world for the better. I thought, one day if I made a lot of money, I could give back. Well that wasn't happening too fast so one day I took action. I made a resolution that day to give away 10% of all future earnings to charity. To achieve that end, I founded the "Glad To Be Here" Foundation, which to date has donated over 1 million dollars to 100's of charities around the globe. My wife Carol and I are privilege to have access to business leaders and global organizations around the world. We work with each of these companies to donate 5% of our fees to the charity of their choice. The other half goes to the foundation and fuels the work we do with organizations of all shapes and sizes. From doctors in the Himalayas who are performing $25 cataract surgeries that give sight to the blind, to charities right here in Mexico, like Casa Huichol, which provides help and support to Mexico's indigenous people in Guadalajara. It's our mission to one day bring "Glad To Be Here" to over a billion people.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful and effective of human emotions. At it's core it's about giving, not taking. It's a magical moment between two people that brings unique joy to both giver and receiver. It plants seeds of positivity that creates a better world for everyone. And it has the power to spread naturally!

Research has shown that once injected into ones core or into a group or even a nation; gratitude will naturally spread and increase, providing health, emotional, and tangible benefits on an exponential scale.

On that note, I’d like to once again express my deepest gratitude: thank you for this distinct honor. I accept the obligation to spread your message, to work as an Ambassador of Goodwill and support a multiple of causes around the world. I'm Glad To Be Here, and hope that you too will leave this room today and share your gratitude with your families, with your loved ones and with the world around you. Together we can make this a world where everyone is Glad To Be Here.

Thank you, Muchos Gracias

John "Gucci" Foley