Dare to Matter

“A beautiful, timely book that will guide you as you find your way to make a difference in the world.” —Walter Isaacson

You don’t have to be a billionaire philanthropist, give up your day job, or wait for retirement to make a difference in the world. You can start now.

We all want to make the world a better place, but with busy, demanding lives, most of us struggle with the where, when, and how. Dr. Jordan Kassalow, founder of VisionSpring, the groundbreaking venture that has restored eyesight and hope to millions of people across the globe, has the answers: here, now, and in your own way. Sharing his personal story of integrating real-world responsibilities with his desire to make a difference, Jordan offers you a practical way forward, custom-made for your unique talents and circumstances, to take you from thought to action.

The soulful and pragmatic approach in this remarkable book will help you see with your heart and use your head to invest in your highest goals—while still earning a paycheck, being there for those you love, and enjoying life. To dare to matter, today.

“An essential reminder that the greatest challenges of any age are no match for the good will, love, passion, and potential that abides in all human beings. I hope this superb book will inspire its readers to follow in Jordan’s footsteps in making a difference for all.” —Madeleine K. Albright, former Secretary of State

“Dare to Matter should be required reading for anyone who dreams of making a difference. The book shines with hard-earned wisdom embedded in spiritual ground and girded with practical advice. You will be inspired, enlivened and possibly, forever changed in all good ways.” —Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO, Acumen and author of The Blue Sweater

About the Contributors

Jordan Kassalow is an optometrist and social entrepreneur. He is a partner at a thriving practice in New York City and is also the Founder of VisionSpring, an award-winning social business that works to restore eyesight to the more than 2.5 billion people who live in the developing world in extreme poverty and need nothing more than a simple pair of eyeglasses to see. VisionSpring has been internationally recognized by the Skoll Foundation, the World Economic Forum, the Aspen Institute, and the World Bank. Since 2001, it has distributed over 5 million pairs of eyeglasses. Jordan is also the co-Founder of the EYElliance, a coalition of multi-sector experts including public, private, academic, and NGO partners. EYElliance functions as a leader, convener, and coordinator to channel collective efforts to address the global unmet need for eyeglasses. Jordan was also the Founder of the Global Health Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations where he is a life member and is a fellow of Draper Richards Kaplan, Skoll, Ashoka, and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. He was named one of the Schwab Foundation’s 2012 Social Entrepreneurs, was the inaugural winner of the John P. McNulty Prize, and was recently named to Forbes Impact 30. For more information on VisionSpring, please visit visionspring.org.

Jennifer Krause is a rabbi and the author of The Answer: Making Sense of Life, One Question at a Time. Her writing and commentary have been featured in Newsweek, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Time.com, and O Magazine. Dubbed “one of NYC’s Hippest Rabbis” and “the Jewish Katie Couric” by WNET’s MetroFocus, Jennifer served as the High Holidays rabbi at Manhattan’s 92Y, the first woman to hold that post in 92Y’s 145 year history. Jennifer is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative, a network of religious and congregational leaders, scholars, and thinkers of all backgrounds and affiliations who come together for nonpartisan, cross-denominational conversations on global issues.