Full statement from Arthur Blank: https://t.co/1lU870TGWa pic.twitter.com/0qejiahKKY, Please, please stop this violence!! Blank writes about being teased for having a stutter. 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. I've always believed that the circumstances around me might change, but these core values, which we discuss in the book, they're not mine, they really belong to all of us. They have no serious public, political advocates. 7) 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. We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. So the answer would be yes. 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. 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. However, the Atlanta Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, may foster a new era of stadium construction and community engagement. 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. 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. However, many Americans are still being denied access to their vote and their ability to fully participate in our democracy. 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. 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. One where guys like the Vikings Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. 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. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. So thats Gruden. 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. 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. And the core values that our forefathers drafted for us they weren't perfect, either, but in their own ways, they strove for those things. 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. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground. "So, you know, I love him. Your support makes this possible. It's an inverted pyramid that speaks to our whole orientation and all of our businesses today. 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. Like all stories meant to inspire, he takes some knocks. endobj They're a PR's dream because they rarely say the wrong thing. /Producer ( Q t 4 . RELATED:Georgia Secretary of State calls many election changes 'solid'. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. 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. But it's really not a story about dogfighting. Atlanta Falcons employees are most likely to be members of the Republican Party. 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. It's a beautiful thing. I felt and others felt that we could be successful here. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located adjacent to the Falcons current home, the Georgia Dome, in Atlantas Westside. Players and coaches appear giving quick testimonials. 5) And that's one of our core values as well: Include everybody. Why Is Doc Jensen Still So Obsessed With His Long-Disproven COVID Claims? But I know where his heart is and his heart is really in a good place. 2, In the late 1970s, Arthur Blank was an officer at Handy Dan, a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. They all understand it's, you know, you have an opportunity to be here on Earth and how do you want to leave it? We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor @KeishaBottoms said last night! How best to put it? Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. 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. Enter your email address to be notified about new posts. Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. "His approach obviously is different. 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. I listen to what he says and sometimes I'll cringe. A little shaky now. More must be done to address systemic racism. Where did your parents come from with your grandparents? We all came from someplace else, other than the other Native Americans. It's the fans. Please, please stop this violence!! And I remember him looking at me saying, If I told your mother what you just said, she would wash your mouth out with soap. But that was the last thing I said. 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! That should never be tolerated. . So there wasn't a word on the other end of the phone. This is not a protest. Another Home. 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. 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. 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. One where guys like the Vikings' Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. And somebody knocked on the door. Friday on Political Rewind: Mary Rodgers grew up among some of Broadway's biggest names, from Sondheim to Bernstein. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, a 2019 Report from the EJI documents more than 4440 racial terror lynchings in the U.S. between 1877 and 1950], National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Political Rewind: Theater critic Jesse Green remembers Mary Rodgers in 'Shy', Longtime nature writer Janisse Ray delivers gripping debut novel, At new season kickoff, Atlanta United looks for fresh start on the field. 12, Blank has been married three times. Blank credits his mother with giving him his first lesson in entrepreneurship. A protest has purpose. GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. 14, He also had three children with his second wife of 16 years, Stephanie Blank. This must happen more than every four years, because theres no offseason for democracy. /Subtype /Image Steve Bullock, and the Democratic National Committee, to name a few, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. The Arthur M. Blank Foundation announced on Wednesday a new series of grants focusing on mental health and well-being in response to America's growing mental health crisis. And that's it. Playoffs, playoff championships, etc. Generally speaking they dont do a lot to lift up the communities and neighborhoods around them. So I would just cut him some slack. 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. 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. Arthur Blank talks sensible gun reform. 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. The Atlanta media thrashed Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot, and Arthur Blank about their interest level sometime after the news broke. How do I do my part in it? How could Trump possibly have lost re-election? 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. I mean, it doesn't make a difference how old you are. So you take your time, you get the words out and people will listen to you. So I think that from those days in college where I raised my hand and I know my buddies around the class would think, Oh, boy, here goes another 5-minute answer, you know? About Arthur Blank Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus cofounded Home Depot in 1978 after being fired from their jobs at a regional hardware store. 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. 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 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. Paul, are you there? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Resistance to Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Futile. In that way, I don't think my personality, probably, or my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. But I would keep raising my hand. 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]. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!! 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. 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. If you don't make good choices, you can end up being in really bad places. Did the Vikings and NFL Just Blacklist Another Left-Leaning Player? And they love the camaraderie. When you burn down this city, youre burning down our community., If you want change in America, go and register to vote. But Id like to say to CNN right now: Karmas a mother. << He owns the team, after all. 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. The league has recently been running in-game PSAs pushing cancer and mental health awareness screenings, etc. Dueling Visions for Minnesota: Scandinavia or South Dakota? The views expressed here are the authors' alone, not necessarily the views of their clients, employers or families. j"[p!d~oB?1].drwe GM]/v2q3^u[\ /. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. Nationality: United States Executive summary: Co-Founder of Home Depot. 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:. And the great political leaders in the past, they were civil and they were good listeners. Blank, who is Jewish, also addressed the administration's failure to recognize the losses suffered by the Jewish people during the Holocaust. [Thats] something that I talk about in the book, which most people are not aware of. These are the kinds of people we need in leadership today, not thinking about red, blue, purple. 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 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. Hey, Senate DFLers, Dont Forget The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact! 1, Arthur Blank was born to Molly and Max Blank in Queens, New York. Born on September 27, 1942, Blank owns the Atlanta, Georgia sports teams - the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United of the MLS. When I left [Home Depot] in 2001, [it] was the second largest retailer in the world, second only to Wal-Mart. We hold all the records. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. So that's really what it was about. And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. He would say, I don't need to be cut any slack, you know. A Member of the Blank Family of Businesses. 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. endobj So I'm happy to see that, you know, he came back to Atlanta and spent time here. That was in 1979. 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. So, long story short, I think, is that we should recognize the past, understand the progress we have made. He and his brother, Michael, were raised in a one-bedroom apartment. The pair always strove to create a work environment that put people before politics, said Blank. Big Game by New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich, BLM Has Achieved Much More Than Its Critics. The stadium boasts roughly 4,000 solar panels and will use 70 percent less energy. 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. 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. 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. When GALEO was established, Georgias Latino community was not well represented, nor was it a viable electoral force; today, there are over 385,000 registered Latino voters in the state. << GALEO strives for a better Georgia where the Latino community is engagedcivically, and its contributions and concerns are recognized. Brian Kemp signed the controversial bill, which includes new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run. And today that's 2,200 stores in Canada, United States and Mexico probably have a market capitalization today of about $300 billion. These are not political issues, they are human issues that need serious, earnest attention from leaders and . Her father was one half of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Arthur Blank greets a crowd of cheering Atlanta United fans in 2017. 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. 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. Yeah, It Could Have Been Worse. But you want your core values to be the same, ideally. Scott Jensens Unanswered $15,000,000,000 Question. 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.". Atlanta, GA 30318 Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. People are scared and in pain. 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? follow. And so from there, since the 2001- 2002 season, we've only had three games that were not sold out during the season. He notes pervasive cynicism about corporate leaders and perceptions that the drive for profit comes at the expense of public good. Hes a combination of father and brother to me. Now, there's no place for violent protest. !, Do not fall for this foolishness!!! The Falcons were the first pro football team in the South, founded during the civil rights era in 1965. 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. The guest. It had to do with our set of values.". But Its All Too Familiar. I said, Paul? (And Im not forgetting Colin Kaepernicks protests against police violence, and how the league effectively blackballed him before paying him off to avoid a certain-to-be-nightmarish public trial.). Expand. More must be done to bring people together through meaningful change. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will also be home to Atlantas MLS team, Atlanta United FC. Tikkun Olam [a Jewish concept of repairing the world through action]. /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . But in any event, that was part of just being a good listener. 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. We Have Every Reason To Expect a Lot More from the NFL, no promises that it will reveal everything it has found out. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br So it was a great story and is a great story. 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. Student Loan Forgiveness and The Ghost of John Kline, (Who?). Opponents of the bill argue it's too restrictive and targets minority voters. 03/03/2023. Hopefully we'll get back in the playoffs, but not as well as the first three years. 15, Two of Blanks children, Dena Kimball and Kenny Blank, sit on the board of directors of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Scott Jensens Dramatic Fall Shows Ads Still Matter. So I would fight for that and surround myself with people who believe the same thing, because you have to have that brain power in every institution or corporation or nonprofit. 1 0 obj No. 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. And at the top of that is who is being served comes first. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Arthur%2BBlank&contributor_employer=The%2BArthur&two_year_transaction_period=2016&contributor_state=GA, https://www.ajc.com/news/local/molly-blank-strong-widow-grew-successful-business-sons/JMYrzmcGsGc4nXD58rqltJ/, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197614, https://corporate.homedepot.com/sites/default/themes/thd/images/timeline/History-Of-The-Home-Depot.pdf, https://www.forbes.com/profile/arthur-blank/?sh=ae7b330749c3, https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/front-office-roster/arthur-blank, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/arthur-m-blank/, https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/statement-from-arthur-blank-on-georgia-voting-rights, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/11/companies-voting-bills-states/, https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/arthur-blank-wife-angela-are-getting-a-divorce/897352464/, https://saportareport.com/a-longtime-anonymous-donor-reveals-her-identity/sections/abcarticles/maria_saporta/, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/dena-kimball/, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/kenny-blank/. You're going to get a lot of your fellow owners really pissed. He released a statement five days after Gov. So everything is designed to accommodate the soccer fans so they feel like this is their place as a result of that. I still remember this as if it was yesterday. This is chaos and were buying into it. So, you know, soccer is on the ascent in the United States dramatically, which is a great thing. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. A reckless high-profile meathead, now out the $60 million remaining on his contract. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman. "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. And if all goes to plan, its also going to help a depressed community thats heard big talk before. 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. [/Pattern /DeviceRGB] 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. 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. Soccer fans don't want to feel like they go into a stadium and they're a second-class citizen citizen. 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.
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