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. February 4, 2021 4:12 pm ET. He and an associate, Bernie Marcus, began experimenting with product discounts in one Handy Dan outlet and observed positive effects of decreasing costs as a percentage of sales and an increase in customer volume. ", It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy We have to be better than this moment. They were trying to indicate that what the military had fought for these rights, the civil rights, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc. 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. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! He came out of the prison system as a changed person for the positive, not for the negative. One where guys like the Vikings' Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. But tell me what I can do to help? And they said, Well, you know, the reality is about 40% of our stadium is empty. meathead) culture inside the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins. Hey, Senate DFLers, Dont Forget The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact! And somebody knocked on the door. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. Why Should Tim Walz Even Bother Debating Scott Jensen? 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. 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. 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. (Airlines resisting vaccination mandates for passengers are another prime example of failure of true leadership.) And it was early on a Sunday morning. It starts with respect. "Obviously, it's a tragic time in the history of the. 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. This is chaos. 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? << 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. Opponents of the bill argue it's too restrictive and targets minority voters. 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. And they love that. 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. And Ambassador Young, another good friend would say the same thing. The Atlanta media thrashed Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot, and Arthur Blank about their interest level sometime after the news broke. Well, I shouldn't say I'm not. Soon after, Blank met his third wife Angela Macuga whom he married in 2016 and later announced their plans to divorce in 2019. Their siblings, their families, you know, may have gone to battle and wore a variety of uniforms for our country over many, many years. We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. Pictured is the famous napkin deal that sealed Arthur Blanks agreement with Taylor Smith to purchase the Atlanta Falcons for $545 million in 2001. I would suggest, for anybody in business, that you listen to who you're serving. Sign up for notifications from Insider! (Confidentiality, you know.) What Does Hamline Not Understand About Academic Freedom? Arthur Blank greets a crowd of cheering Atlanta United fans in 2017. Scott Jensens Dramatic Fall Shows Ads Still Matter. He said, All of that really gave me time not only for redemption, but more importantly, for reflection. And he said, I really realized that I had done a lot of good things in my life putting aside and playing ball. 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. 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. We've broken every season ticket record per game. And if all goes to plan, its also going to help a depressed community thats heard big talk before. How could Trump possibly have lost re-election? We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. Arthur Blank co-founded the Home Depot in the late 1970s after being fired from a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. Soccer fans don't want to feel like they go into a stadium and they're a second-class citizen citizen. The views expressed here are the authors' alone, not necessarily the views of their clients, employers or families. Please, please stop this violence!! Max died when Arthur was 15, leaving his mother to grow what became a multi-million-dollar business. 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. But its the NFL itself that should be held to greater account and responsibility than it ever is. Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. /Producer ( Q t 4 . Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. And now their story is a page-turning novel. Do it in November. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images), WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), >> Go home. 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. Our frontline associates and all those businesses come next. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" Generally speaking they dont do a lot to lift up the communities and neighborhoods around them. Liz Cheney Aint Going Nowhere in This Republican Party, Jensens Abortion Ban Promises Come Back to Haunt Him, Thanks to Oppo. 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. 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. Though the 78-year-old who's now the owner of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team was aware of their political differences, he said it never had any bearing on their shared values. Paul, are you OK? I was going to call his secretary, thinking Paul got a heart attack or something. !, Do not fall for this foolishness!!! But I know where his heart is and his heart is really in a good place. Blank's statement did not specify any initiatives or call any elected officials or political parties by name. Playoffs, playoff championships, etc. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. 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. Not about dogfighting. We sold out the entire stadium in two-and-a-half hours. 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 Athletic's Felipe Crdenas joined Georgia Public Broadcasting's Orlando Montoya tohelp breakdown what fans can expect this year on and off the field. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. ,> U#kw1%dHT6qZq]9Ki o And I told him before, You get in a convertible and drive around the field and Michael, there are 73,000 people in the building. OMG, Democrats Are Criminally Bad At Marketing What They Accomplish. 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. Minnesota Legislature, What Are You Chewing? 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. 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. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. Stop feeding fear and anger every day. Continued: https://t.co/yePGJUaGVV, Ive got a lot of love and respect for police officers., We dont want to see Targets burning. So I would just cut him some slack. Good Company is billed as a visionary road-map for creating successful businesses. For more information about Life Itself, visit the . Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. His daughter Dena is the executive director of the Kendeda Fund, a left-of-center private foundation founded by her mother, Diana Blank. ATLANTA - Falcons team owner Arthur Blank has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team's final game of the regular season. /Height 155 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. It's good to be different, said Blank, but he said it's the intolerance of some that worries him about the future. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. I mean, it doesn't make a difference how old you are. 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. . Can We Please Kill Off the Tipping Mumbo-Jumbo? Arthur Blank on NFL kneelers: 'Players have no interest in being disrespectful to flag' Political Insider By Jim Galloway, Political Insider Trump is apparently referencing a highly sourced. CEIR works to build voter trust and confidence, increase voter participation and improve the efficiency of election administration. In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. 2, In the late 1970s, Arthur Blank was an officer at Handy Dan, a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. Currently, over 200 Westside residents are working on the stadiums construction and the foundation has funded, among other things, Westside Works to help residents find employment and learn job training skills. Big Game by New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich, BLM Has Achieved Much More Than Its Critics. One where guys like the Vikings Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. 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. 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. He had a gun on his lap, sitting on his right thigh. He just opened the door. my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. 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. !, And listen to me, be careful where you are getting your information to JOIN protests!! And to be sure, Atlanta is better than what we saw in the actions of a few last night. Marcus handed the CEO reigns to Blank in 1997; Blank held the position until a new president and CEO was hired in 2000. When you find common solutions that work for everybody and [are] respectful of everybody to represent the best of you. 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. I listen to what he says and sometimes I'll cringe. Lawlessness, vandalism and intentionally upending the peace with any form of violence has never been productive and is not the answer. 5) The guest. Here, using insidegov.com's database, are the disclosed political donations* for majority NFL owners dating back to the 2008 election. And if I stop talking now for two minutes, you realize just how long two minutes is. However, the Atlanta Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, may foster a new era of stadium construction and community engagement. Arthur Blank enjoys one of his favorite hobbies at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, one of three guest ranches owned by Blank Family of Businesses. 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?. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images). /Filter /DCTDecode They're a PR's dream because they rarely say the wrong thing. 15, Two of Blanks children, Dena Kimball and Kenny Blank, sit on the board of directors of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. It's a beautiful thing. /BitsPerComponent 8 MATTIE'S CALL: A 9-month-old baby girl was reported missing from the Ellenwood area with a man police say was diagnosed with a mental illness. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke with reporters during a 10-minute teleconference from the Super Bowl. More must be done to address systemic racism. j"[p!d~oB?1].drwe GM]/v2q3^u[\ /. 16 Blanks son, Kenny Blank, also sits on the foundations board and is the executive director of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. And thats despite our recent record, which hasn't been, you know, one I'm particularly proud of, but we'll get better. But he was. But the two subsequent CEOs the gentleman there today, Craig Minear, the CEO and president Ted Decker both live the culture. /SA true And I think we got disconnected. Another Home. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. In order to put this grinding pandemic behind us once and for all? Bernie has great values and Bernie cares deeply not only about our faith, but about giving back. How best to put it? The league has recently been running in-game PSAs pushing cancer and mental health awareness screenings, etc. With Enemies Like Scott Jensen, Who Needs Friends? In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. Enter your email address to be notified about new posts. That should never be tolerated. The book lays out a set of values that guided him to turn around the struggling Atlanta Falcons NFL team, launch the Atlanta United FC soccer club and build the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. One of the beauties is that when you come to the stadium, it feels like it's the United Nations. He owns the team, after all. 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, Another Home Depot cofounder, Bernie Marcus, is an. 1, Arthur Blank was born to Molly and Max Blank in Queens, New York. 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. 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 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. 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 who grew up in New York City said he believes the US is going through one of the most tumultuous times in its history. (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.) 14, He also had three children with his second wife of 16 years, Stephanie Blank. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr And then as Dr. King wrote in his last book, which his wife published a year after he passed away. To many Atlantans, myself included, leaving Turner Field was symbolic of the white flight that has defined the city since the 1960s. 3 0 obj 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. /SMask /None>> I said, Paul? 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. Its also part memoir of how his ethics evolved from watching his father run a neighborhood pharmacy in Queens, New York, to launching multi-billion dollar ventures. 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:. So, then we opened up The Home Depot. 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. 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. So there was no disrespect to the military. We are better than this We are better than this as a country. But Still Not Even an Indictment. A protest has purpose. Because It Delivers Comfort, Status and Cash. 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. He fielded multiple quarterback-related questions and spoke glowingly of Ridder, who. Yeah, It Could Have Been Worse. Friday on Political Rewind: Mary Rodgers grew up among some of Broadway's biggest names, from Sondheim to Bernstein. A little shaky now. 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. I mean, people were throwing tea off those boats because they were protesting, you know. The NFL owners club is a remarkable collection of avaricious gargoyles. They all understand it's, you know, you have an opportunity to be here on Earth and how do you want to leave it? And they love the camaraderie. Owner, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. People are scared and in pain. Please stop the violence!, Im not in Atlanta, but if I were I would have been standing with our Mayor! 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 said, Look, I'm going to be a new owner, tell me what I can do to help. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? 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. Blank writes about being teased for having a stutter. Scott Jensens Unanswered $15,000,000,000 Question. This can create a steady stream of jobs and revenue for the community. The pair always strove to create a work environment that put people before politics, said Blank. 6 0 obj 4 0 obj My dad didn't look at who it was. 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. Those come first. 6 Blank was the 2003 Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. There are nearly one million Latinos in Georgia, with one of the fastest growth rates of the Latino population in the nation. The Atlanta Falcons new stadium is going to be beautiful. And that's one of our core values as well: Include everybody. The documentary will premiere exclusively Nov. 23, 2020 at 8 p.m.on Georgia Public Broadcasting. It's our job is to serve the American people and I think we need to have more focus on that.". C q" 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. But he did. We Present You Trumps Deposition, More or Less Verbatim. This is not a good way to make a living. Arthur M. Blank is responsible for the sorry state of the Falcons. They want to have a home-field advantage. If you go to a Home Depot shareholders meeting, they start out every single meeting for 42 years now with this value wheel that we developed. 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. Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. A documentary surrounding Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian's surrogacy journey is set to air on RT on March 13. 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. In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. Blank, who is Jewish, also addressed the administration's failure to recognize the losses suffered by the Jewish people during the Holocaust. Born on September 27, 1942, Blank owns the Atlanta, Georgia sports teams - the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United of the MLS. 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. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground. Their frustration is real, and it must be acknowledged and addressed. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention.