Low Expectations and Dark Hopes for the New Year, Minnesotas Wealthiest Social Security Beneficiaries Shouldnt Be First in Line for Help, Time to Limit HOAs Solar Panel Policing Powers, Pop Quiz: How Many People Actually Know Whats Going On?. The portfolio includes nearly $10 million in grants to 12 nonprofits that represent a diverse set of organizations with a strong presence in Georgia and the Southeast. 4, Blank purchased the NFLs Atlanta Falcons for more than $540 million shortly after stepping down as CEO of Home Depot. Tikkun Olam [a Jewish concept of repairing the world through action]. We are better than this We are better than this as a country. During the 2020 elections, Blank contributed $300,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, $35,000 to the Democratic National Convention, and tens of thousands of dollars to state Democratic Party committees. /Length 7 0 R They all understand it's, you know, you have an opportunity to be here on Earth and how do you want to leave it? ATLANTA - Falcons team owner Arthur Blank has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team's final game of the regular season. I mean, you write a book like this, it's really getting into kind of the political arena. You know, he uses the phrase community of chaos, that we move away from chaos and towards community and community in a very broad sense, community with each other. So I think that part of that comes out of really being a good listener and responding to what you're hearing and trying to find a way to make things work for the benefit of everybody collaboratively. And they found ways to get things done with people who had a little bit a different view but found that commonality that was really important. We don't have any fans in our building, and this is what we plan on doing: We're going to, you know, promote season tickets for 100 bucks or $10 a ticket. And I remember waiting for, you know, probably two minutes. Since then, they have re-organized their focus areas more specifically into four groups: policy advocacy, organizing and civic engagement, impact litigation, and legal services. Atlanta Falcons vNew Orleans Saints Owner Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Flacons reacts before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please, please stop this violence!! So the answer would be yes. Think about How do I listen to the people that are actually trying to serve and how do we put results in place that would give them the very best chance for equality and for success and for fair treatment? And I think we have to strive more for that. You can do whatever you choose to do. /CA 1.0 And in fact, one of her famous expressions was: You do the right things for the right reasons and live with the consequences of them. And I'm trying to build that into my life as well. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" 8 In 2012, Blank signed the Giving Pledge and committed to giving more than half of his wealth away to philanthropic efforts in his lifetime. GALEO strives for a better Georgia where the Latino community is engagedcivically, and its contributions and concerns are recognized. 2023 Cox Media Group. I mean, you know, all those things. By all accounts, those associated with the new stadium and the Westside view their presence as at least a 10-20 year commitment toward revitalizing a downtrodden community and bringing the city together. However, many Americans are still being denied access to their vote and their ability to fully participate in our democracy. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. So there wasn't a word on the other end of the phone. With Labels, Listen to Affected Populations, Not Activists, As With Alcohol, Mitigation, Not Prohibition, Is the Answer, It Seems Democrats Are Blundering Badly (Again) with Their All-Abortion, All-the-Time Campaign. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. Minnesota Legislature, What Are You Chewing? But thus far Blank and those connected to the stadium appear committed to using this opportunity as one to enhance and not exploit this community. This is not a good way to make a living. A documentary surrounding Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian's surrogacy journey is set to air on RT on March 13. Bernie has great values and Bernie cares deeply not only about our faith, but about giving back. Arthur Blank, owner of Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, co-founder of Home Depot . They survived. GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor @KeishaBottoms said last night! Can We Please Kill Off the Tipping Mumbo-Jumbo? Arthur Blanks brother, Michael, and his father, Max, are photographed outside the OES Pharmacy family business, in 1940. Though the 78-year-old who's now the owner of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team was aware of their political differences, he said it never had any bearing on their shared values. Their siblings, their families, you know, may have gone to battle and wore a variety of uniforms for our country over many, many years. The ones in Atlanta on Friday started off peaceful but later turned into violent demonstrations and looting of local businesses. It starts with respect. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. And they love that. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. I went to a small business school outside of Boston called Babson College I would always sit in the front because I always wanted to pay attention and learn. I would suggest, for anybody in business, that you listen to who you're serving. Those come first. In 2014 it emerged that Bruce Levenson, who owned the NBAs Atlanta Hawks, had written an email that amongst other things theorized that the black crowd [at Philips Arena] scared away the whites, adding for good measure: I have even bitched that the kiss cam is too black. Levenson later that year sold his stake in the franchise, and the Hawks have worked hard to win back their black audience. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. The NFL could and should be a leader among other giant corporations in taking stark stands against belligerent stupidity like racism (which it is sort of good at in a lipservice/signage kind of way, considering 70% of its players are black) and sexism (where it has a long ways to go, despite promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with pink shoes), but also right now for wait for it COVID vaccinations. But really, in my view, it's mostly that talking to young people about, you know, here's somebody who's been there, done it, gotten on T-shirts, lived it, and somebody whose name they respect or the least they know of, I should say, in most cases. In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. /Width 625 But it's really not a story about dogfighting. Not about dogfighting. Founded in 2010 as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC), the organization became part of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation in 2014. Where did your parents come from with your grandparents? We all came from someplace else, other than the other Native Americans. But I know that his essence, at his heart and his soul, is a really good person that cares deeply about humanity. In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. Two Gruden compadres, ex-Gophers star and former NFL coach Tony Dungy and his ESPN partner Mike Tirico, both black, are in a bad spot for defending Gruden about his michellin [sic] tires description of another black guys lips. And that's one of our core values as well: Include everybody. endobj We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. /Type /ExtGState /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . And that's it. Pictured is the famous napkin deal that sealed Arthur Blanks agreement with Taylor Smith to purchase the Atlanta Falcons for $545 million in 2001. Is the Jensen-Birk Campaign Minnesotas WOAT? So I'm happy to see that, you know, he came back to Atlanta and spent time here. Bernardo Little . Resistance to Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Futile. CEIR works to build voter trust and confidence, increase voter participation and improve the efficiency of election administration. There's no place for looting and stealing and whatever else. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. And if I stop talking now for two minutes, you realize just how long two minutes is. And whether, you know, be it Dr. King or, a great friend to America and a great leader, Congressman Lewis, [who] was a great personal friend of mine and served our country beautifully, would say peaceful nonviolent protest is how we that's how we make progress. But my mother would say to me, You know, what you have to say is important. But We Aint Seen Nuthin Yet. Owner, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. Arthur Blank co-founded the Home Depot in the late 1970s after being fired from a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. Over the past week, figures around the NFL have In Fall 2021, we launched our new Democracy program area with $10 million in grants designed to strengthen key democracy organizations to be resilient for the long haul of this work. To assist with the effective inclusion of community voices, the city of Atlanta participated in the Living Cities City Accelerator program, which streamlined and articulated (PDF) best practices for service providers and community leaders to build stable communities in Atlanta. ATLANTA - Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United Owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday afternoon he believes voting should be made "easier, not harder for every eligible citizen" and his business and non-profit partners plan to support efforts to advance voting access. Peaceful protests of the past have led to new ways forward. We believe the right to vote is sacred and should be protected, so that we can have an active and engaged citizenry that participates in our democracy year-round, not just during presidential election cycles. The 74-year-old Blank, who Forbes estimates has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion, is the director of Cox. 7, Blank founded the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995 and has awarded over $560 million to causes such as education and early childhood development. Home Depot cofounder, Arthur Blank, is a longtime Democratic supporter and donated $250,000 to committees supporting Joe Biden between July and September in 2020, Forbes reported. That was in 1979. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? 8 . "It's not a red issue or a blue issue, it's about how you treat people, whether it be guests, fans, customers, associates, or shareholders in the case with HD," said Blank, whose Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has granted over $800 million to help underserved people across the nation. The foundation is . However, peaceful protests really go back and look at the history of our country back to the Boston Tea Party. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images), WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), >> Go home. If you sit in your homes instead of burning your home to the ground, you will have time to properly plot, plan, strategize and organize and mobilize in effective ways., Two of the most effective ways is first taking your butt to the computer and making sure you fill out your census so that people know who you are and where you are. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will also be home to Atlantas MLS team, Atlanta United FC. Of the other 60% who do come, half are rooting for the other team. So I understood what they were saying: They just wanted support noise. Nationality: United States Executive summary: Co-Founder of Home Depot. She was a woman of great principle, great personal authority. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images). Marcus handed the CEO reigns to Blank in 1997; Blank held the position until a new president and CEO was hired in 2000. And how do I put my shoulder to the wheel and lead by example and take the blessings of all the resources that our family. It's a beautiful thing. America has long struggled to deliver a fair and equitable democracy to all of its citizens. Blank also owns Atlantas Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a sports and entertainment facility valued at $1.5 billion that hosted the 2019 Super Bowl. To many Atlantans, myself included, leaving Turner Field was symbolic of the white flight that has defined the city since the 1960s. American professional sports owners have contributed nearly $47 million in federal elections since 2015, according to research by ESPN in partnership with FiveThirtyEight, including $10 million. Arthur M. Blank is responsible for the sorry state of the Falcons. Blank spent 19 years as the company's president before succeeding Marcus as CEO. Opponents of the bill argue it's too restrictive and targets minority voters. << It's the customers. OMG, Democrats Are Criminally Bad At Marketing What They Accomplish. His daughter Dena is the executive director of the Kendeda Fund, a left-of-center private foundation founded by her mother, Diana Blank. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br A message sent to Arthur Blank from President Obama in 2018, thanking him for his commitment to affordability at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Blank cut concession prices by 50%. And then he came up to my suite afterward and it was like 10, 15 minutes later, his face was just full of tears and he said that he was so moved by it. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. Additionally in 2014, the Atlanta Braves announced that they were building a new stadium outside the city in the northern suburbs, and leaving Turner Field, which was originally the site of Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 summer games. /SA true /SMask /None>> And, you know, you see the blending of every type of person and personality you can imagine. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. Born on September 27, 1942, Blank owns the Atlanta, Georgia sports teams - the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United of the MLS. endobj Come up with real solutions: Atlanta rapper Killer Mike condemns vandalism, >> 'If you care about this city then go home': Atlanta mayor, police chief call protests a disgrace, NCSHP arrest driver accused of nearly hitting 2 students at bus stop in Statesville, Rock band Kiss reveals Charlotte connection to hit song, After Murdaugh trial circus, Walterboro welcomes normality, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Charlotte woman celebrates $1 million scratch-off prize, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Young you are. And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. No. And I remember he told me, he said, You know, when [I went into] the prison system, they gave me three pair of underwear, three shirts, three pair slacks, three socks and one pair of shoes, and that was it. He said, That was all I was going to have, as opposed to the lifestyle he was leading before. I understand that, but I respect it," said Blank. So we had 35, 40 players kneeling before that, after that speech, we had close to 300 players kneeling because they took it personally and their families took it personally and their parents and their siblings and their grandparents and their heritage was being challenged. He just opened the door. What I Learned Over One Cup of Coffee Yesterday Morning, You Want to Laugh at Liz Truss and The Brits. A little shaky now. The stadium boasts roughly 4,000 solar panels and will use 70 percent less energy. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. Brian and Arthur welcomed their daughter Blake into the world via Arthur's sister Aoife, who acted as a surrogate for the couple, back in September -- with Brian previously teasing the documentary before Blake's arrival. 10, Following proposed changes to Georgia voting laws in early 2021, Blank released a statement saying, We should be working to make voting easier, not harder for every eligible citizen, and that his businesses and family foundation will support efforts that advance voting access for the citizens of Georgia and across the nation. 11 Blank also participated in an online call with over 100 corporate executives to discuss taking action following changes to state voting laws including the possibility of delaying investments in states that pass allegedly restrictive voting laws. [Thats] something that I talk about in the book, which most people are not aware of. Blank who grew up in New York City said he believes the US is going through one of the most tumultuous times in its history. And that's all part of his story of redemption and his story of being a changed person. Atlanta Falcons employees are most likely to be members of the Republican Party. We believe that voting rights are critically important, and our home state of Georgia is at the center of the struggle. He notes pervasive cynicism about corporate leaders and perceptions that the drive for profit comes at the expense of public good. But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. 7) And so he speaks to people throughout the United States, young people primarily, about that. In recent years Atlantas sports teams have attracted controversies that have highlighted the racial disparities that still largely define the city. The perceived linebetween politics and sports further blurred when Major League Baseball's union chief said players are ready to discuss moving the 2021 MLB All-Star Game out of Truist Park. /Type /XObject But, we really could not have done it without great service, great pricing, and great product knowledge. NOW WATCH: We combined Trump and Biden's separate town halls so you can watch an actual debate between the presidential candidates, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. Blank is a dedicated Democratic supporter, having donated thousands to Hillary Clinton's campaign, the Bullock Victory Fund, which backs the party's 2020 candidate for Montana senator, Gov. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. We expect to learn a great deal from these groups and have that learning inform our strategy on voting access and civic participation in Georgia and beyond. And I love him. But Blank regularly speaks on business school campuses, where future leaders and executives tell him they are anxious about the environment, the wealth gap, racial and gender inequities, and a litany of examples of corporate malfeasance. So it was good. They were trying to indicate that what the military had fought for these rights, the civil rights, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc. So that's really what it was about. Now, there's no place for violent protest. . Seventy percent of the players in the NFL are African American a disproportionate number. Organizations also called to move The Masters, which begins April 8. In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. Brian Kemp signed SB 202 into law. Open, honest dialogue is needed on a much greater scale. << Link Copied! Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service. Stop feeding fear and anger every day. stream "I think one of the things that is wrong with America today that we can work on and become better at is that we need to become better listeners to each other and we need to be better about understanding where people are coming from," Blank said. They want to have a home-field advantage. /Producer ( Q t 4 . But I would keep raising my hand. Theres a revelation of Blank stumbling dazedly into a parking lot after being abruptly forced out of Home Depot in 2001, and his devastation after the Falcons epic 2017 loss in the Super Bowl. Why Should Tim Walz Even Bother Debating Scott Jensen? 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Philanthropist Arthur Blank has thrown his support behind a new voter education initiative aimed at young people. About Arthur Blank Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus cofounded Home Depot in 1978 after being fired from their jobs at a regional hardware store. I look at my six children, Batch 1, Batch 2, and, you know, they go from age 19 to age 52, if I have it right. Arthur Blank on NFL kneelers: 'Players have no interest in being disrespectful to flag' Political Insider By Jim Galloway, Political Insider Trump is apparently referencing a highly sourced. I seriously doubt the leagues TV ratings or ad revenue would suffer an iota. Sign up for notifications from Insider! By Bob Bahr October 12, 2021, 5:48 pm. Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. Players and coaches appear giving quick testimonials. The latest of Blank's many charitable endeavors is aimed at helping the museum expand its reach. He owns the team, after all. Arthur is committed to changing the narrative around sports stadiums, said Frank Fernandez, the VP of Community Development at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, to The Daily Beast. I felt and others felt that we could be successful here. And now their story is a page-turning novel. I know you see my partner, Bernie, on Fox News very often. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Wednesday he is encouraged by the progress of quarterback Desmond Ridder and the potential of building around the rookie. If you don't make good choices, you can end up being in really bad places. Well, I shouldn't say I'm not. He fielded multiple quarterback-related questions and spoke glowingly of Ridder, who. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. It's the fans. And we need to figure out, you know, how do we move past that and how do we learn from that and how do we get connected with our current reality? (To his enormous credit, Leibovich burned up all the access his name and the Times brand afforded him to tell a story the average sports writer only dares hint at.) I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. Friday on Political Rewind: Mary Rodgers grew up among some of Broadway's biggest names, from Sondheim to Bernstein. We sold out the entire stadium in two-and-a-half hours. Home Depot co-founders pictured in 1979, a year after the first store opened. Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. Given its footprint, we have good rights to expect a lot more from this monolith. One of the robbers tied me up in the bathroom, the bathtub, and I said a few things to him, which, at 10 years old, I don't think my mother even knew I knew those words. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. << 3 0 obj 4 0 obj Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is married to Angela Macuga, his third wife. Blank, who is worth about $6.2 billion, per Forbes, is one of the higher donors among Biden's billionaire backers, who outnumber Trump's at 134 to 101, although more of Biden's backers have given the $2,800 personal maximum. MATTIE'S CALL: A 9-month-old baby girl was reported missing from the Ellenwood area with a man police say was diagnosed with a mental illness. He came out of the prison system as a changed person for the positive, not for the negative. And to be sure, Atlanta is better than what we saw in the actions of a few last night. In total, they anticipate hosting each year 40 to 50 big events and an additional 100 to 200 small events in the neighboring park that will be built where the Georgia Dome currently resides. GPBs Virginia Prescott asked Blank about some of those stories in a conversationpresented in collaboration with Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlantas Book Festival in Your Living Room, the National JCC Literary Consortium and the Atlanta History Center. They put my mother, my brother and I in the living room with one of them and the other was searching the house, looking for cash that wasn't there. But tell me what I can do to help? And they said, Well, you know, the reality is about 40% of our stadium is empty. But Still Not Even an Indictment. Hopefully we'll get back in the playoffs, but not as well as the first three years. 17. When he came out, he was on house arrest and I took a meal to him and his family from his favorite restaurant here in Atlanta. Political Donations: Blank has largely donated to Democratic causes, most notably: $32,400 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2013; $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in '08; and. And he recently gave $250,000 to committees supporting Joe Biden, Forbes reported. Fernandez says that they intend to use the stadium as an anchoring institution, and that the number one thing people in the community said they wanted are jobs. . And he had to mop the floors for weeks and months on end. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Then I would not be bashful about asking questions. He said, All of that really gave me time not only for redemption, but more importantly, for reflection. And he said, I really realized that I had done a lot of good things in my life putting aside and playing ball. My suspicion is that while Dungy and Tirico and dozens if not hundreds of other NFL leaders may have been surprised by Grudens racist imagery, they arent as unfamiliar with his other boys club stupidity. 14, He also had three children with his second wife of 16 years, Stephanie Blank. Her father was one half of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Citizens and municipalities have for far too long believed these baseless claims, paid for the stadium, and watched them lie dormant during the offseason as the new businesses never came. A Handful of Things I Could Not Care Less About, Matt Birk: Rape Victims Are Playing the Rape Card?, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And the Falcons new stadiumscheduled to open this summerwith an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, $200 million coming from Atlanta hotel-motel taxesis definitely big and shinny with tons of gadgets to enhance the fan experience. But this is where the similarities with most other stadiums end. 15, Two of Blanks children, Dena Kimball and Kenny Blank, sit on the board of directors of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Blank's statement did not specify any initiatives or call any elected officials or political parties by name. I know you see my partner, Bernie, on Fox News very often. Among Blanks diverse interests are the nationwide PGA Tour Superstore chain, three guest ranches in Montana, and a family foundation that counts millions in economic development investments on Atlantas beleaguered Westside among its $660-million outlay to date. I was gagged. Both John Lewis John, just a month before he passed away and Andy Young have said to me that we do have to recognize that things are better than they used to be. And the great political leaders in the past, they were civil and they were good listeners. I concede, as others who know him personally have, that Im stunned that a guy like Gruden who has been a high-profile media/cultural presence for over 20 years, regularly giving live interviews, chewing up air time as a TV analyst and obliging all the other requests for personal contact that go with being a football celebritry could conceal his essential meat-headedness so long and so well.
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