And so think about the implications of the choices you're making for yourself and for your loved ones, etc. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. The public discourse on these and other issues is too divisive, too political. However, the Atlanta Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, may foster a new era of stadium construction and community engagement. Now 78, he is largely beloved in Georgia as an entrepreneur, owner of two professional sports teams and a prolific philanthropist. The foundation is . All of which is, yknow, really classy stuff. I mean, it doesn't make a difference how old you are. 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. We dont have the answers, but we are committed to listening and responding to the people who have made this their lifes work and to the citizens they serve. And I think we got disconnected. But its the NFL itself that should be held to greater account and responsibility than it ever is. Kemp and the law's backers said it provides some common-sense reformsto ensure elections are secure. They all have a great set of eyes and they're all different. Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. 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. 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. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. 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. Seventy percent of the players in the NFL are African American a disproportionate number. In recent years Atlantas sports teams have attracted controversies that have highlighted the racial disparities that still largely define the city. /SM 0.02 Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is the first nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities in Georgia and the Southeast. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. "So, you know, I love him. And then he worked in the laundry. But COVID vaccination, as a consequence of being made political by belligerent partisans, many of whom love football more than life itself, is terrifying territory for the NFL. The Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR) mission is to ensure elections are secure, voters have confidence in election outcomes and democracy thrives as civic engagement grows. 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. Arthur Blank greets a crowd of cheering Atlanta United fans in 2017. The family foundation has already invested over $20 million into the surrounding community. Your support makes this possible. "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. A number of events over the last couple of weeks have reminded us again that the long, worthy quest for equal justice, civility and unity in America is far from over. a guy regularly reviled by sportswriters, players and fans as a (very wealthy) toxic idiot. 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? They survived. Arthur Blank is getting more involved in the political process. 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. I mean, you know, all those things. So, then we opened up The Home Depot. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. 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. Arthur Blanks brother, Michael, and his father, Max, are photographed outside the OES Pharmacy family business, in 1940. 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. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention. Home Depot Cofounder Arthur Blank on Politics, Supporting Biden They said it would take an act of courage on your part to go out on the field and and to be recognized. And, you know, people stood up! 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. I know you see my partner, Bernie, on Fox News very often. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr The statement came about five days after Gov. Stop feeding fear and anger every day. How best to put it? I still remember this as if it was yesterday. 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. A study by ESPN and FiveThirtyEight in October 2020 showed Blank is a bipartisan contributor to political campaignsbut contributed more to Democratic candidates from 2012 to 2020. 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. 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. 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. And being a good listener, it's an art form that we all can possess. << It's an inverted pyramid that speaks to our whole orientation and all of our businesses today. Arthur Blank - Forbes The 79-year-old philanthropist has supported educational projects to promote civil rights and racial justice. It Now Actually Matters, a Lot. But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. And Ambassador Young, another good friend would say the same thing. But in any event, that was part of just being a good listener. Arthur Blank on Trump policies: 'Troubled by anything that Statement from Arthur Blank on the 2020 election - Atlanta Falcons /Type /XObject It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. Blank writes about being teased for having a stutter. But he was there and he finally said, Listen, you own the franchise, you have the option. Good Company is billed as a visionary road-map for creating successful businesses. He would say, I don't need to be cut any slack, you know. But I would keep raising my hand. Because It Delivers Comfort, Status and Cash. 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. 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. /CreationDate (D:20210314125741+02'00') This can create a steady stream of jobs and revenue for the community. But Its All Too Familiar. follow. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" Which country do you come from? 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. I mean, you write a book like this, it's really getting into kind of the political arena. But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor @KeishaBottoms said last night! Proceeds from sales of Good Companygo to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. 03/03/2023. Shrinking from conflict over something as valid, real and life-protecting as a vaccine is not what Id call, manly, brave, courageous or patriotic. The 74-year-old Blank, who Forbes estimates has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion, is the director of Cox. And thats despite our recent record, which hasn't been, you know, one I'm particularly proud of, but we'll get better. 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. Brian Kemp signed the controversial bill, which includes new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run. 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. Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. 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. Marcus has been an outspoken Donald Trump devotee throughout both the 2016 and 2020 elections, donating $7 million to Trump's campaign four years ago. RELATED:Georgia Secretary of State calls many election changes 'solid'. 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. I have many friends who are no longer fervent Braves supporters. 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. Hey, Senate DFLers, Dont Forget The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact! So, you know, soccer is on the ascent in the United States dramatically, which is a great thing. So when we started, MLS was ranked like 22nd among all the leagues in the world. 9. Open, honest dialogue is needed on a much greater scale. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!! Arthur blank politics The largest donation made to a political party by an Atlanta Falcons employee was by Arthur Blank. Arthur Blank gives $17M to National Center for Civil and Human Rights %PDF-1.4 The Blank foundation also emphasizes environmental sustainability and aims to support programs that foster this message in the Westside. Arthur Blank Archives - Wry Wing PoliticsWry Wing Politics GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. 9, Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. Blank retired as Home Depot's co-chairman in. The Atlanta media thrashed Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot, and Arthur Blank about their interest level sometime after the news broke. A documentary surrounding Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian's surrogacy journey is set to air on RT on March 13. And if I stop talking now for two minutes, you realize just how long two minutes is. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Did the Vikings and NFL Just Blacklist Another Left-Leaning Player? If executed improperly, this stadium could continue a long line of broken promises for this blighted community. Tikkun Olam [a Jewish concept of repairing the world through action]. "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. And I think this should be addressed out of respect and out of listening.". In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. When you find common solutions that work for everybody and [are] respectful of everybody to represent the best of you. But it's really not a story about dogfighting. I listen to what he says and sometimes I'll cringe. And so from there, since the 2001- 2002 season, we've only had three games that were not sold out during the season. 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. It doesn't mean we agree on everything, we don't, but that's healthy," he said. This is chaos and were buying into it. 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. After stepping down as CEO of Home Depot in the early 2000s, Blank's 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. Blank told Business Insider that despite their political differences, their different leanings never got in the way of their ability to work together as partners or as friends. 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. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. 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%. You can do whatever you choose to do. More must be done to address systemic racism. 12, Blank has been married three times. And my mother was giving him a lecture saying, You realize this is not what your parents would want you to do. 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. The Falcons were the first pro football team in the South, founded during the civil rights era in 1965. He released a statement five days after Gov. 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. There are nearly one million Latinos in Georgia, with one of the fastest growth rates of the Latino population in the nation. . However, many Americans are still being denied access to their vote and their ability to fully participate in our democracy. GPB intern Eva Rothenberg contributed to this article. What Does Hamline Not Understand About Academic Freedom? Blank spent 19 years as the company's president before succeeding Marcus as CEO. 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. Inside The Political Donation History Of Wealthy Sports Owners Arthur Blank releases statement after Trump's comments on NFL Thats great. 1, Arthur Blank was born to Molly and Max Blank in Queens, New York. It's our job is to serve the American people and I think we need to have more focus on that.". Resistance to Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Futile. For more information about Life Itself, visit the . 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. Today, Blank is the Chairman of AMB Group LLC, parent company of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. 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. 2, In the late 1970s, Arthur Blank was an officer at Handy Dan, a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. 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. The NFL owners club is a remarkable collection of avaricious gargoyles. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Their frustration is real, and it must be acknowledged and addressed. Brian Kemp signed SB 202 into law. 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. It's good to be different, said Blank, but he said it's the intolerance of some that worries him about the future. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! 3 0 obj I, like almost everyone else, had already started celebrating at halftime. 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. The league has recently been running in-game PSAs pushing cancer and mental health awareness screenings, etc. The Number of White Teachers About to Get Fired is Exactly Zero. Owner, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. 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. They want to have a home-field advantage. I've had conversations with a number of senators who made it very clear that some of their best friends, both politically and otherwise, are on the other side of the aisle. Liz Cheney Aint Going Nowhere in This Republican Party, Jensens Abortion Ban Promises Come Back to Haunt Him, Thanks to Oppo. 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? It's a beautiful thing. 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. 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. For the last two decades, sports have united this largely racially divided city, and partially due to the actions of the Hawks and the Braves, the Falcons could ill-afford to have a stadium plan that was not only racially inclusive, but also worked to incorporate the surrounding community. "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. But you want your core values to be the same, ideally. 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. Lawlessness, vandalism and intentionally upending the peace with any form of violence has never been productive and is not the answer. JFIF K K C 1 0 obj !, Do not fall for this foolishness!!! Arthur Blank: I was fired from Home Depot - YouTube Sadly, sometimes these young men and women get involved in that cycle and they never get out of it. But the two subsequent CEOs the gentleman there today, Craig Minear, the CEO and president Ted Decker both live the culture. So it was good. So, I would say it was very successful. Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. /SMask /None>> The guest. /Subtype /Image She was a woman of great principle, great personal authority. 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. that those rights were not being fully reflected in our society today. In their sixth season of Major League Soccer, the Five Stripes bring some new faces onto the field this year.