So the answer would be yes. I think back when I lived in a neighborhood, you know, a small neighborhood, when my mother and dad were alive, we all took care of each other. 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. follow. The Number of White Teachers About to Get Fired is Exactly Zero. They all understand it's, you know, you have an opportunity to be here on Earth and how do you want to leave it? Seventy-threethousand stood up and clapped, gave him a great hand. You can do whatever you choose to do. Kimball previously served as the vice president of network support at Teach for All. My dad didn't look at who it was. A protest has purpose. 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. 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. Blank, speaking with Falcons reporters via phone from the Super Bowl, expressed confidence in the direction of the team following a 7-10 finish under second-year coach Arthur Smith. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. And I think we got disconnected. We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. Arthur Blank On Michael Vick, Bernie Marcus, And How He'd Run The U.S. Arthur Blank responsible for sorry state of Falcons - ajc 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. 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. But he was there and he finally said, Listen, you own the franchise, you have the option. Because It Delivers Comfort, Status and Cash. 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. 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. Arthur Blank greets a crowd of cheering Atlanta United fans in 2017. So, I would say it was very successful. A reckless high-profile meathead, now out the $60 million remaining on his contract. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! Blank also owns Atlantas Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a sports and entertainment facility valued at $1.5 billion that hosted the 2019 Super Bowl. 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! He and his brother, Michael, were raised in a one-bedroom apartment. I seriously doubt the leagues TV ratings or ad revenue would suffer an iota. /ca 1.0 Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Why Is Doc Jensen Still So Obsessed With His Long-Disproven COVID Claims? 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. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. Friday on Political Rewind: Mary Rodgers grew up among some of Broadway's biggest names, from Sondheim to Bernstein. 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. endobj 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. And today that's 2,200 stores in Canada, United States and Mexico probably have a market capitalization today of about $300 billion. The family foundation has already invested over $20 million into the surrounding community. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br We believe that voting rights are critically important, and our home state of Georgia is at the center of the struggle. Blank retired as Home Depot's co-chairman in. 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. But We Aint Seen Nuthin Yet. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. 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. So in this case, we were coming back from a game after the team had played in St. Louis against the old St. Louis Rams theyre now in L.A. and instead of riding in the front of the plane with the coaches and managers, I sat in the back with the players. Dueling Visions for Minnesota: Scandinavia or South Dakota? $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? /SMask /None>> Given its footprint, we have good rights to expect a lot more from this monolith. ATLANTA - Falcons team owner Arthur Blank has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team's final game of the regular season. Arthur Blank - Wikipedia Good Company is billed as a visionary road-map for creating successful businesses. 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. 17. 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. The league has recently been running in-game PSAs pushing cancer and mental health awareness screenings, etc. We Have Every Reason To Expect a Lot More from the NFL, no promises that it will reveal everything it has found out. It's hard to believe. Arthur Blank indicates that 2023 season is a must win for Arthur Smith Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located adjacent to the Falcons current home, the Georgia Dome, in Atlantas Westside. 9, Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. And my mother was giving him a lecture saying, You realize this is not what your parents would want you to do. /BitsPerComponent 8 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. But I know where his heart is and his heart is really in a good place. (Airlines resisting vaccination mandates for passengers are another prime example of failure of true leadership.) Falcons owner Arthur Blank to miss Sunday's game due to positive COVID 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. More must be done to bring people together through meaningful change. Paul, are you there? The foundation is . "This notion of divisiveness has become, in my humble opinion, maybe, post-Civil War, probably one of the most stressful times I've ever seen in our country," he said. Our family foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen our democracy, and weve chosen this as one of our new collective areas of giving. So it really never defined me. During the 2020 elections, Blank contributed $300,000 to Biden Victory Fund, $35,000 to the Democratic National Convention, and tens of thousands of dollars to state Democratic Party committees. Hey, Senate DFLers, Dont Forget The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact! JFIF K K C "It's healthy to disagree on things, but it's not acceptable to not be kind.". PDF Arthur blank politics He received his MBA from Harvard. /CA 1.0 But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. Home Depot cofounders Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus have long been on separate sides of the fence when it comes to politics. 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. Falcons' Blank excited about building around Ridder at QB 1, Arthur Blank was born to Molly and Max Blank in Queens, New York. I felt and others felt that we could be successful here. 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. I know you see my partner, Bernie, on Fox News very often. I had another NFL player, while [Vick] was in prison, come visit me and say I came from exactly the same neighborhood, but it was in a part of Pittsburgh. So sadly, Michael was raised in an environment where that was kind of normal behavior, if you will. 2010-2023 Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Why Should Tim Walz Even Bother Debating Scott Jensen? Arthur Blank talks sensible gun reform. Now, the last game we had in the Georgia Dome before we moved to Mercedes Benz Stadium in August of 2017, wewere honoring all of our ring of honor members and he was one of them. Nationality: United States Executive summary: Co-Founder of Home Depot. /Title ( A r t h u r b l a n k p o l i t i c s) Another Home. He also goes public about the pain of learning of Michael Vicks role in an illegal dogfighting ring, along with other ups and downs in a life of unimaginable financial success. /Producer ( Q t 4 . So we designed our stadium to accommodate not just for the Atlanta Falcons and National Football League football American football but soccer as well. 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. 1, I think at that time I didn't probably fully appreciate the environment, the communities and neighborhood that Michael was raised in, an area called New Newport News. Atlanta, GA 30318 Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. A little shaky now. 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. Over the next two years (2021-2023), we will create an inclusive relationship with and among these grantees to share ideas, best practices, lessons and challenges. He came out of the prison system as a changed person for the positive, not for the negative. Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons - Sports Illustrated Mercedes-Benz Stadium will also be home to Atlantas MLS team, Atlanta United FC. Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. Arthur Blank says Falcons are 'excited' about Desmond Ridder's play 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. I am, in a certain sense. 260 14th St. NW 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. They all have a great set of values. And at the top of that is who is being served comes first. But its the NFL itself that should be held to greater account and responsibility than it ever is. 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. Weve never won a Super Bowl, and this years loss in Super Bowl LI was especially hard to take. Were usually very happy to talk, very happy to share our opinions and what have you I have enough humility to understand that the people were serving know better. That origin story is well known in business and retail circles as an example of how bold, disruptive thinking can change the game, but Good Company provides a more personal view. >> Our frontline associates and all those businesses come next. 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:. It is in effect protecting the teams owner, a guy regularly reviled by sportswriters, players and fans as a (very wealthy) toxic idiot. Max died when Arthur was 15, leaving his mother to grow what became a multi-million-dollar business. Political Affiliations of Retail Leaders - liveabout.com Marcus handed the CEO reigns to Blank in 1997; Blank held the position until a new president and CEO was hired in 2000. 1 0 obj What Does Hamline Not Understand About Academic Freedom? All of which is, yknow, really classy stuff. A co-founder of Home Depot increased his giving for children in the pandemic because, he said, "they don't always have the tools to deal with what's happened to them.". The largest donor was Falcons owner Arthur Blank. How best to put it? It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. So thats Gruden. Playoffs, playoff championships, etc. This is not a protest. Blank, who is Jewish, also addressed the administration's failure to recognize the losses suffered by the Jewish people during the Holocaust. And if you go to the Museum of Equal Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, [Equal Justice Initiative Director] Bryan Stevenson says the same thing: We need to recognize [that] these 5000 lynchings took place in the United States[a 2019 Report from the EJI documents more than 4440 racial terror lynchings in the U.S. between 1877 and 1950]. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. 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. 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. Arthur Blank enjoys one of his favorite hobbies at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, one of three guest ranches owned by Blank Family of Businesses. Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. 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. Home Depot Cofounder Arthur Blank on Politics, Supporting Biden Blank told Business Insider that despite their differences, running a company is "not a red issue or a blue issue" and is instead about sharing the same values. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. They survived. That was in 1979. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Bernard Marcus - Wikipedia I said, Paul? So, I think the great political leaders and the great spiritual leaders, in my view, have always, always opened up their arms and included everybody. 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. 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. Support more understanding and be better listeners trying to see how the other people, you know, try to stand in the footsteps of others. As I've said, 95% of my estate is going to be recycled back through our foundations and they will provide their insights and their leadership and their views and values that their father and their mothers would be very proud of. And then as Dr. King wrote in his last book, which his wife published a year after he passed away. Hes a combination of father and brother to me. One where guys like the Vikings Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. 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. meathead) culture inside the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins. It's the customers. It is making no promises that it will reveal everything it has found out about the Redskins and others who had contact with the team. 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. Its more like cowardly, and meatheaded. 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. We have to be better than burning down our own homes because if we lose Atlanta what else do we have?, I want you to go home. that those rights were not being fully reflected in our society today. Full statement from Arthur Blank: https://t.co/1lU870TGWa pic.twitter.com/0qejiahKKY, Please, please stop this violence!! /Width 625 So it was good. 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. endobj Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank released a statement Monday on the importance of fair elections and democracy: "Free and fair elections are vital to the health of our.