Paul, are you OK? I was going to call his secretary, thinking Paul got a heart attack or something. In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. The Georgia Dome was also built for the Olympics, and construction for Philips Arenathe Hawks home, which sits next door to the Dome and where the previous basketball arena, the Omni Colosseum, once satbegan in 1997. It's good to be different, said Blank, but he said it's the intolerance of some that worries him about the future. I seriously doubt the leagues TV ratings or ad revenue would suffer an iota. . There was a six-year period in there, when things went a little south. 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. 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. I want you guys to come up with real solutions. 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. The 74-year-old Blank, who Forbes estimates has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion, is the director of Cox. They all understand it's, you know, you have an opportunity to be here on Earth and how do you want to leave it? 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. So there was no disrespect to the military. People are scared and in pain. Now it's ranked like seventh. Atlanta Falcons employees are most likely to be members of the Republican Party. And he should know. Arthur blank politics The largest donation made to a political party by an Atlanta Falcons employee was by Arthur Blank. The documentary will premiere exclusively Nov. 23, 2020 at 8 p.m.on Georgia Public Broadcasting. His percentage of giving back from his estate will be equal to mine and some of his philosophies don't exactly match mine. The Gruden e-mails were leaked from a (way too) long-running investigation of the toxic (i.e. In a time when more than half of Americans are dissatisfied with the state of our democracy, the most powerful way to demonstrate and have our voices heard is through the vote. Our history of voting rights is a constant struggle, a repetitive cycle of expansion followed by restriction. endobj Can We Please Kill Off the Tipping Mumbo-Jumbo? 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. 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. Politicians, business owners and celebrities are speaking out to share their thoughts on Floyds death, the issues his killing have brought to the forefront and the protests that turned to chaos, specifically in Atlanta. Walz Cooperation With Law Enforcement Deserves Praise, Not Punishment, If You Think Republicans Cant Ban Abortion in Minnesota, Look No Further than Iowa, Russia, Ukraine and My Seven Months with YouTube. At the end of the day, you can have differences of opinion, which is a great thing to have, and different approaches, which is a great thing to have. We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. So it really never defined me. That Vote for Secretary of State? /Type /ExtGState Yet the team continues to unite Atlantans during the ups and downs. And it was early on a Sunday morning. 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. If you don't make good choices, you can end up being in really bad places. Seventy percent of the players in the NFL are African American a disproportionate number. We've broken every season ticket record per game. I'm not sure how they're going to receive you. /Filter /DCTDecode 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?. Where did your parents come from with your grandparents? We all came from someplace else, other than the other Native Americans. Which country do you come from? And thats despite our recent record, which hasn't been, you know, one I'm particularly proud of, but we'll get better. But, you know, I think the word civility is terribly important today in the political world in which we just don't see it the way we need to see it. And being a good listener, it's an art form that we all can possess. They all have a great set of values. It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. And so from there, since the 2001- 2002 season, we've only had three games that were not sold out during the season. Those come first. We believe that voting rights are critically important, and our home state of Georgia is at the center of the struggle. (Airlines resisting vaccination mandates for passengers are another prime example of failure of true leadership.) The trouble is that the NFL is not coming clean on that investigation. 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. But the two subsequent CEOs the gentleman there today, Craig Minear, the CEO and president Ted Decker both live the culture. Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke with reporters during a 10-minute teleconference from the Super Bowl. 4, Blank purchased the NFLs Atlanta Falcons for more than $540 million shortly after stepping down as CEO of Home Depot. They're a PR's dream because they rarely say the wrong thing. And they've worked collectively for the United States, for everybody in this country, 330 million people. And now their story is a page-turning novel. 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. The league has recently been running in-game PSAs pushing cancer and mental health awareness screenings, etc. Its more like cowardly, and meatheaded. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images). 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. 260 14th St. NW In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. /ca 1.0 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. Home Depot cofounders Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus have long been on separate sides of the fence when it comes to politics. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. [Thats] something that I talk about in the book, which most people are not aware of. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. Hes a combination of father and brother to me. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Georgia Secretary of State calls many election changes 'solid', study by ESPN and FiveThirtyEight in October 2020, too restrictive and targets minority voters, Cobb leader says moving MLB All-Star game in protest would hurt business, Democrats dispute police report in Georgia lawmakers arrest, Civil rights groups file new lawsuit over Georgia voting law, Photos show rescue of Woodstock man 'buried up to his neck' in collapsed trench, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Sheriff's office continues five-year-long search for missing Carrollton man, Georgia baby girl reported missing with man diagnosed with mental illness, police say, Jesse Wilson: Adoptive mother arrested in boy's death in Arizona, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, Young Thug trial: Judge orders probe of leaked evidence, Families intensify search for two men missing for more than a week. Blank writes about being teased for having a stutter. /Type /XObject Student Loan Forgiveness and The Ghost of John Kline, (Who?). 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. Generally speaking they dont do a lot to lift up the communities and neighborhoods around them. "This grant will help The Center add to its existing . "So, you know, I love him. They were trying to indicate that what the military had fought for these rights, the civil rights, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc. He received his MBA from Harvard. 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. We Present You Trumps Deposition, More or Less Verbatim. I mean, you know, all those things. The next thing is making sure you exercise your political bully power and going to local elections and beating up the politicians you dont like., It is time to beat up prosecutors you dont like at the voting booth. No, I'm not. The Athletic reported that Blank gave $2,800 to Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, on July 1. 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. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. All of us as human beings, I think need to do a much better job of being a good listener. GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. I have what's called a veil state, or I am a stutterer. 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 the level where this Gruden idiocy touches the countrys perilous moment is where the NFL arguably one of the most popular and therefore influential organizations/corporations in the country could and should use Grudens buffoonish racism and sexism to make unambiguous statements to its fans, which is to say just about everyone in the country. His daughter Dena is the executive director of the Kendeda Fund, a left-of-center private foundation founded by her mother, Diana Blank. Weve never won a Super Bowl, and this years loss in Super Bowl LI was especially hard to take. I remember I called the commissioner then, who was Paul Tagliabue, and I say, Well, Paul, I have this idea. The Falcons leadership knows how to play politics. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. So, you know, soccer is on the ascent in the United States dramatically, which is a great thing. 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. 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. Max died when Arthur was 15, leaving his mother to grow what became a multi-million-dollar business. 12, Blank has been married three times. One of the beauties is that when you come to the stadium, it feels like it's the United Nations. Marcus handed the CEO reigns to Blank in 1997; Blank held the position until a new president and CEO was hired in 2000. 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. Their siblings, their families, you know, may have gone to battle and wore a variety of uniforms for our country over many, many years. 13 Diana is a left-of-center philanthropist based in Atlanta and anonymously contributed several high-profile donations in the area including a $4 million gift to the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra as well as a nearly $20 million gift to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. /Height 155 And so he speaks to people throughout the United States, young people primarily, about that. I mean, you write a book like this, it's really getting into kind of the political arena. %PDF-1.4 So, that represents that melting-pot philosophy: Were all in this together. The statement came about five days after Gov. 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. We are better than this We are better than this as a country. And that's one of our core values as well: Include everybody. /SM 0.02 16 Blanks son, Kenny Blank, also sits on the foundations board and is the executive director of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Arthur Blank co-founded the Home Depot in the late 1970s after being fired from a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. For years, Americans have fallen prey to the con of wealthy businessmen who want to build shiny new sports arenas yet dont want to pay for them. 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. (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.) America has long struggled to deliver a fair and equitable democracy to all of its citizens. That should never be tolerated. Please, please stop this violence!! I said, Look, I'm going to be a new owner, tell me what I can do to help. Founded in 2010 as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC), the organization became part of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation in 2014. Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!! 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. I worked with him for over 40 years and we shared the same bathroom for over 30 years, which is more than any of our marriages lasted," said Blank, who's currently valued by Forbes at about $6.2 billion. Like many other enormous corporations the NFL, selling a slick, bristling mix of testosterone and patriotism, ducks away from anything with a whiff of political conflict. It's not trying influence, but trying to share philosophies of life and stories and thoughts about a certain set of values, which really transcend business, nonprofit, as well as the political arena. 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. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. Michael Vicks published letter, Atlanta, nearly made a whole city cry on the eve of the Super Bowl. When you burn down this city, youre burning down our community., If you want change in America, go and register to vote. 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. Over the past week, figures around the NFL have You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. It's an inverted pyramid that speaks to our whole orientation and all of our businesses today. Do it in November. 17. /SMask /None>> He and his brother, Michael, were raised in a one-bedroom apartment. However, peaceful protests really go back and look at the history of our country back to the Boston Tea Party. Continued: https://t.co/yePGJUaGVV, Ive got a lot of love and respect for police officers., We dont want to see Targets burning. Their frustration is real, and it must be acknowledged and addressed. I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. 5) 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. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. This is chaos and were buying into it. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. And so he's used that time since he got out of prison and giving back to community, speaking to young people. They have no serious public, political advocates. /AIS false Expand. And I think this should be addressed out of respect and out of listening.". 9, Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. Our family foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen our democracy, and weve chosen this as one of our new collective areas of giving. Did the Vikings and NFL Just Blacklist Another Left-Leaning Player? I still remember this as if it was yesterday. Founded in 2010 as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC), the organization became part of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation in 2014. Why Should Tim Walz Even Bother Debating Scott Jensen? The statement reads: "We are at our very best. Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. I love CNN, I love Cartoon Network. All Rights Reserved. Full statement from Arthur Blank: https://t.co/1lU870TGWa pic.twitter.com/0qejiahKKY, Please, please stop this violence!! He fielded multiple quarterback-related questions and spoke glowingly of Ridder, who. That was in 1979. Scott Jensens Dramatic Fall Shows Ads Still Matter. Now 78, he is largely beloved in Georgia as an entrepreneur, owner of two professional sports teams and a prolific philanthropist. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz There are people and other countries who are posting things pretending to be US, pretending to stand for peaceful protest, but they are trying to incite us into violence and chaos to try and do more harm! ", CNN -- Ted [Turner] did a great thing. Here, using insidegov.com's database, are the disclosed political donations* for majority NFL owners dating back to the 2008 election. The 79-year-old philanthropist has supported educational projects to promote civil rights and racial justice. I mean, everybody's standing for an hour-and-a-half and they just don't sit down. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution., Together for Atlanta. It's the customers. Kimball previously served as the vice president of network support at Teach for All. After stepping down as CEO of Home Depot in the early 2000s, Blanks interests centered on a variety of Atlanta-based sports franchises and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, a private foundation that has awarded over $560 million. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. The firing in 1978 was a political situation primarily between my partner Bernie [Marcus] and a gentleman, that has passed away now, who was his boss. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. "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. You know, dig in [your] heels and it becomes, "My territory, your territory," etc. "I know Bernie's heart. And they love that. But Its All Too Familiar. GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. He just opened the door. I want you to talk to 10 of your friends. You're going to get a lot of your fellow owners really pissed. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with businessman Arthur Blank about gun regulation and philanthropy. Dueling Visions for Minnesota: Scandinavia or South Dakota? endobj ", It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy We have to be better than this moment. My dad didn't look at who it was.