4 0 obj But it's really not a story about dogfighting. And if all goes to plan, its also going to help a depressed community thats heard big talk before. How best to put it? And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. 9, Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. What Does Hamline Not Understand About Academic Freedom? Link Copied! Blank credits his mother with giving him his first lesson in entrepreneurship. Good Company is billed as a visionary road-map for creating successful businesses. GALEO has also handed out flyers at city events, supermarkets, and churches that target Latinos. Despite being widowed at a young age, his mother managed the familys mail-order pharmaceutical business and sold it to a large retail conglomerate. It Now Actually Matters, a Lot. 5 Other Blank family businesses include the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore as well as a handful of ranches across the country. Kirk Cousins Failed His Character Test, But the NFL Gives Him Its Highest Award for Character Anyway, Bidens Junk Fee Fight Should Include Broders Deli as Well as Las Vegas. I mean, it wasn't like, You're Republican or Democrat. Michael Vicks published letter, Atlanta, nearly made a whole city cry on the eve of the Super Bowl. Thats great. But Id like to say to CNN right now: Karmas a mother. a guy regularly reviled by sportswriters, players and fans as a (very wealthy) toxic idiot. The wealthy propose tax increases on the poor and middle class to pay for their new stadiums, and they claim that new businesses flocking to the area will magically cover the costs. They all live life with purpose. Martin Luther King Jr. once lived in this part of town, but decades of disinvestment and neglect have resulted in over 40 percent of the community living in poverty with an unemployment rate twice that of the rest of Atlanta. When I left [Home Depot] in 2001, [it] was the second largest retailer in the world, second only to Wal-Mart. Our democracy is made stronger when we hear from all Americans on the issues of our day whether they be national or local. I mean, those fans, they feel like that's the only sport that we're hosting in that stadium. The Athletic's Felipe Crdenas joined Georgia Public Broadcasting's Orlando Montoya tohelp breakdown what fans can expect this year on and off the field. I listen to what he says and sometimes I'll cringe. that those rights were not being fully reflected in our society today. 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. 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. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke with reporters during a 10-minute teleconference from the Super Bowl. The 79-year-old philanthropist has supported educational projects to promote civil rights and racial justice. 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. It doesn't mean we agree on everything, we don't, but that's healthy," he said. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. "And I'm not 100 years old I'm getting there, but I'm not but the things I see and deal with are just inherently not what's made this country great. So, then we opened up The Home Depot. People are scared and in pain. 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. A protest has purpose. I remember I called the commissioner then, who was Paul Tagliabue, and I say, Well, Paul, I have this idea. 9. I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. So it really never defined me. The stadium boasts roughly 4,000 solar panels and will use 70 percent less energy. 14, He also had three children with his second wife of 16 years, Stephanie Blank. Through their work, we envision a social movement in which communities of color are fully empowered, active in civic life, and working together to promote equity, fair treatment, and self determination for all. A company where we already know from law suits the teams executives treated its cheerleaders like Vegas escorts and, yup, traded nudie pictures of them changing outfits. And so from there, since the 2001- 2002 season, we've only had three games that were not sold out during the season. And he recently gave $250,000 to committees supporting Joe Biden, Forbes reported. 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. No, I'm not. And so he's used that time since he got out of prison and giving back to community, speaking to young people. Prior to the construction of the Georgia Dome they played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium with the Atlanta Braves, and you could see the spot where Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth in home runs. She was a woman of great principle, great personal authority. 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. Can We Please Kill Off the Tipping Mumbo-Jumbo? 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. Well, I shouldn't say I'm not. You know, better than in the 40s and 50s, but not where we should be. 5) That is the change we need in this country.". A little shaky now. However, the Atlanta Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, may foster a new era of stadium construction and community engagement. In 2022, they plan to connect with over 1 million voters/ potential voters through phone banking, text banking, in-person canvassing events, and going door to door. But what, I ask, would be the effect of a dozen or so top current and former stars, coaches and league executives stepping up to a camera and telling pro footballs millions (and millions) of fans to get vaccinated for the sake of other people like the season ticket holders sitting next to them if not themselves? The NFL owners club is a remarkable collection of avaricious gargoyles. 12, Blank has been married three times. He details the inception and rapid success of Atlanta United, and responding to the NFL protests that began in 2016. Kemp and the law's backers said it provides some common-sense reformsto ensure elections are secure. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is weighing in on Georgia's sweeping overhaul of election laws. I think when the president [Donald Trump] in the fall of 2017 commented during his speech in Alabama about I don't want to use the words, you know what they were but he termed the players that were kneeling, in my view, in a very derogatory way. His percentage of giving back from his estate will be equal to mine and some of his philosophies don't exactly match mine. 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. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. "His approach obviously is different. I have what's called a veil state, or I am a stutterer. Falcons owner Arthur Blank made a $15 million donation on Tuesday to The Cooper Institute, run by its founder Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a friend of Blank's and a strong proponent of preventive medicine. And at the top of that is who is being served comes first. But we both said, you know, if we ever had to compete with Handy Dan that was the most successful conventional chain of home improvement center stores in the country at that time it would be with a large, no frills, downmarket store. And it's all connected not only to associates, but to the communities in which we live and operate. His is another example of how well powerful systems, in this case, the almighty NFL, can throw a PR cocoon around people and project to the public only the parts of its culture that serve its business interests until they dont. I said, Look, I'm going to be a new owner, tell me what I can do to help. Atlanta Falcons employees are most likely to be members of the Republican Party. There's no place for looting and stealing and whatever else. You need to figure out something else to do for the rest of your life. And after a while, he said, Would you please shut up? And she never did. Soccer fans don't want to feel like they go into a stadium and they're a second-class citizen citizen. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention. There are nearly one million Latinos in Georgia, with one of the fastest growth rates of the Latino population in the nation. They all have a great set of eyes and they're all different. Georgia Politics FOX 5 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. The Atlanta media thrashed Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot, and Arthur Blank about their interest level sometime after the news broke. . "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. /SMask /None>> In a statement released on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium Twitter account, attributed to Blank, he said Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation leadership conveyed his sentiment directly to state officials in recent weeks. That should never be tolerated. I am, in a certain sense. In our case, the fans, customers, guests or grantees, whatever the case may be, you're going to find out the ultimate truth of what you need to do to build a business response to issues, spot opportunities, deal with problems, whatever it may be. 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. 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. But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. I said, Paul? In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. All Rights Reserved. Organizations also called to move The Masters, which begins April 8. 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. My dad didn't look at who it was. The Westside also suffers from severe flooding problems, and the stadium has a 1.1 million gallon storm vault underground to trap and reuse their rain water, and help prevent flooding. Where did your parents come from with your grandparents? We all came from someplace else, other than the other Native Americans. We believe that voting rights are critically important, and our home state of Georgia is at the center of the struggle. 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. 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. Bernie has great values and Bernie cares deeply not only about our faith, but about giving back. endobj 7) Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. But Still Not Even an Indictment. Also watchRISING UP: A Westside Story,a documentary film by David Lewis Productions that gives viewers a detailed look into the ideation, construction, and impact of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on the city of Atlanta. Georgia businessman Arthur Blank joins with voting groups on Democracy Class Atlanta The Jolt: Arthur Blank teams with voting groups to forge 'Democracy Class Atlanta' Caption Credit:. The Falcons were the first pro football team in the South, founded during the civil rights era in 1965. Expand. He's committed to his wife now, his children. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. Left to right: Dennis Ross, Arthur Blank, Bernie Marcus, Pat Farrah, Ron Brill. This is chaos. Ticket pricing was higher than it could have been or should have been at that time, and so I brought Dick Sullivan over from Home Depot, the gentleman who now runs our PGA Superstores and we came up with a strategy that we've got to sell season's tickets for $100. Steve Bullock, and the Democratic National Committee, to name a few, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. In the 1940sGeorgia mountains, eight children were taken into the woods and left to die. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. And I know he considers the blessings that we had coming from Home Depot [and what its done] for all of our philanthropy today and all of our businesses today to be something that we're very thankful for. 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. ', We have to be better than this moment. Atlanta rapper, advocate Killer Mike has message for protestors https://t.co/zb3oMHK7sx, "You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country. Paul, are you there? 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. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. 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. >> It's a beautiful thing. Mercedes-Benz Stadium aims to be the first stadium to receive LEED Platinum certification. In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. /CA 1.0 The latest of Blank's many charitable endeavors is aimed at helping the museum expand its reach. But staying in the city and trying to work with the community definitely beats the usual stadium construction scam and unwanted racial division that has become far too common in sports today. endobj The Falcons' owner, Arthur Blank, the co-founder of Home Depot with a net worth of $3 billion, at first glance certainly fits the bill of your standard billionaire athletic team owner. On Thursday, Falcons owner Arthur Blank's foundation donated a five-year, $17 million grant to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. /AIS false In 1978, they co-founded the home-improvement retailer The Home Depot, with the help of merchandising expert Pat Farrah and New York investment banker Ken Langone who assembled a group of investors. 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. Blank donated another $35,500 to the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. So, long story short, I think, is that we should recognize the past, understand the progress we have made. Now 78, he is largely beloved in Georgia as an entrepreneur, owner of two professional sports teams and a prolific philanthropist. Lawlessness, vandalism and intentionally upending the peace with any form of violence has never been productive and is not the answer. During the past year, GALEO staff and volunteers have participated in events at food banks, churches, and schools, where they provide information while assisting with free COVID-19 testing and food distribution.
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