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. Shrinking from conflict over something as valid, real and life-protecting as a vaccine is not what Id call, manly, brave, courageous or patriotic. Open, honest dialogue is needed on a much greater scale. It's the fans. "Obviously, it's a tragic time in the history of the. And he had to mop the floors for weeks and months on end. The foundation is . A protest has purpose. 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. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. 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. 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. Arthur Blank Politics, Foundation, Businesses, Net Worth /CA 1.0 The Atlanta Falcons new stadium is going to be beautiful. Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. [/Pattern /DeviceRGB] Our history of voting rights is a constant struggle, a repetitive cycle of expansion followed by restriction. 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. So it was a great story and is a great story. I have many friends who are no longer fervent Braves supporters. Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. Why Is Doc Jensen Still So Obsessed With His Long-Disproven COVID Claims? 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. follow. But thus far Blank and those connected to the stadium appear committed to using this opportunity as one to enhance and not exploit this community. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located adjacent to the Falcons current home, the Georgia Dome, in Atlantas Westside. 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. 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. 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. NFL Owner Political Donations: Who Gave to Obama AND Rubio? - The Big Lead So when we started, MLS was ranked like 22nd among all the leagues in the world. 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 couple filed for divorce in 2013. 2010-2023 Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. 6 Blank was the 2003 Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. It starts with respect. And they've worked collectively for the United States, for everybody in this country, 330 million people. But its the NFL itself that should be held to greater account and responsibility than it ever is. One where guys like the Vikings' Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. The views expressed here are the authors' alone, not necessarily the views of their clients, employers or families. 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. It's hard to believe. These are not political issues, they are human issues that need serious, earnest attention from leaders and . All the issues that Colin [Kaepernick] raised at that time [2016-2107] about the social injustice and lack of equality and equity in the criminal system and all those issues, I think they were real then and they're certainly real now. Were trying to do the exact opposite of that.. Support more understanding and be better listeners trying to see how the other people, you know, try to stand in the footsteps of others. /Title ( A r t h u r b l a n k p o l i t i c s) 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. Arthur Blank talks sensible gun reform | CNN This must happen more than every four years, because theres no offseason for democracy. And myself, if you will, I'm at the very bottom of the pyramid as a servant leader and somebody who is there to provide leadership, but also provide whatever that needs to be done for us to be successful. The family foundation has already invested over $20 million into the surrounding community. 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. The Falcons were the first pro football team in the South, founded during the civil rights era in 1965. Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. 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. 12, Blank has been married three times. /Width 625 Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. One of the beauties is that when you come to the stadium, it feels like it's the United Nations. 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. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with businessman Arthur Blank about gun regulation and philanthropy. Through their work, we envision a social movement in which communities of color are fully empowered, active in civic life, and working together to promote equity, fair treatment, and self determination for all. Today, Blank is the Chairman of AMB Group LLC, parent company of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. It Now Actually Matters, a Lot. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. And the great political leaders in the past, they were civil and they were good listeners. meathead) culture inside the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins. Yeah, It Could Have Been Worse. Do it in November. 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. 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. Martin Luther King Jr. once lived in this part of town, but decades of disinvestment and neglect have resulted in over 40 percent of the community living in poverty with an unemployment rate twice that of the rest of Atlanta. The Home Depot co-founder, Arthur Blank, candidly shares details of an impromptu meeting in an airport hangar when he was asked to step down, the company's short-term mistake of replacing him. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. After cofounding Home Depot in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1978, Blank and Marcus helped put the do-it-yourself phenomenon on the map by offering the tools for personal home renovations. 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. 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 they love the camaraderie. To many Atlantans, myself included, leaving Turner Field was symbolic of the white flight that has defined the city since the 1960s. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. How could Trump possibly have lost re-election? 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. With Enemies Like Scott Jensen, Who Needs Friends? Max died when Arthur was 15, leaving his mother to grow what became a multi-million-dollar business. 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. I stayed in touch with him to some degree when he was in prison. 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. And, you know, you see the blending of every type of person and personality you can imagine. We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. Blank retired as Home Depot's co-chairman in. She was a woman of great principle, great personal authority. They have no serious public, political advocates. The 79-year-old co-founder of Atlanta-based The Home Depot . !, Do not fall for this foolishness!!! << It's not trying influence, but trying to share philosophies of life and stories and thoughts about a certain set of values, which really transcend business, nonprofit, as well as the political arena. 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. Brian Kemp signed SB 202 into law. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. No, I'm not. Who knows how successful theyll be, and many residents worry that economic growth could facilitate gentrification. Stop making people feel so fearful. And they love that. In 1978, they co-founded the home-improvement retailer The Home Depot, with the help of merchandising expert Pat Farrah and New York investment banker Ken Langone who assembled a group of investors. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Dueling Visions for Minnesota: Scandinavia or South Dakota? 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 so he speaks to people throughout the United States, young people primarily, about that. In his new book, Good Company, Blank follows his own success to show that purpose and profit can and should coexist. 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? Arthur Blank: I was fired from Home Depot - YouTube Nationality: United States Executive summary: Co-Founder of Home Depot. Home Depot co-founders pictured in 1979, a year after the first store opened. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Proceeds from sales of Good Companygo to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. 6 0 obj He and his brother, Michael, were raised in a one-bedroom apartment. So there was no disrespect to the military. How do you help repair the world if we can use that expression? Over the past week, figures around the NFL have Arthur Blank's Wives & Family: 5 Fast Facts | Heavy.com 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 seriously doubt the leagues TV ratings or ad revenue would suffer an iota. Our family foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen our democracy, and weve chosen this as one of our new collective areas of giving. 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. Arthur Blank co-founded the Home Depot in the late 1970s after being fired from a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. I mean, everybody's standing for an hour-and-a-half and they just don't sit down. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. And that's all part of his story of redemption and his story of being a changed person. /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . More must be done to address the underlying issues that have led to these incidents across the country. GPB is committedto bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. The wealthy propose tax increases on the poor and middle class to pay for their new stadiums, and they claim that new businesses flocking to the area will magically cover the costs. Paul, are you there? We sold out the entire stadium in two-and-a-half hours. "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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I felt and others felt that we could be successful here. Home Depot Cofounder Arthur Blank on Politics, Supporting Biden Opponents of the bill argue it's too restrictive and targets minority voters. 14, He also had three children with his second wife of 16 years, Stephanie Blank. The 74-year-old Blank, who Forbes estimates has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion, is the director of Cox. Citizens and municipalities have for far too long believed these baseless claims, paid for the stadium, and watched them lie dormant during the offseason as the new businesses never came. So there wasn't a word on the other end of the phone. Arthur Blank Archives - Wry Wing PoliticsWry Wing Politics stream 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. 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. And how do I put my shoulder to the wheel and lead by example and take the blessings of all the resources that our family. 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. Here, using insidegov.com's database, are the disclosed political donations* for majority NFL owners dating back to the 2008 election. Falcons GM comments on pursuing Deshaun Watson last offseason But Still Not Even an Indictment. Bernardo Little . Please, please stop this violence!! And my mother was giving him a lecture saying, You realize this is not what your parents would want you to do. I want you guys to come up with real solutions. Link Copied! The stadium boasts roughly 4,000 solar panels and will use 70 percent less energy. But my mother would say to me, You know, what you have to say is important. RELATED:Georgia Secretary of State calls many election changes 'solid'. 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. Paul, are you OK? I was going to call his secretary, thinking Paul got a heart attack or something. The rescue team said the man was buried up to his neck in soil. OMG, Democrats Are Criminally Bad At Marketing What They Accomplish. I was gagged. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. Now 78, he is largely beloved in Georgia as an entrepreneur, owner of two professional sports teams and a prolific philanthropist. 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. So we spent six months maybe talking to fans, or people that were not fans, but were, you know, living in the Atlanta area at that time, and we found out that there were four or five things we had to fix. 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. He came out of the prison system as a changed person for the positive, not for the negative. We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. C q" Falcons Owner Arthur Blank Gave Nearly $40,000 to Joe Biden and Scott Jensens Unanswered $15,000,000,000 Question. 8 In 2012, Blank signed the Giving Pledge and committed to giving more than half of his wealth away to philanthropic efforts in his lifetime. Founded in 2010 as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (AALAC), the organization became part of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation in 2014. /SMask /None>> More must be done to address systemic racism. 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. 9. Peaceful protests of the past have led to new ways forward. 4 0 obj He's committed to his wife now, his children. Bernard Marcus - Wikipedia 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?. 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. Not about dogfighting. 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. 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. Hes a combination of father and brother to me. The problem for the big, powerful, macho NFL, as it is for every other giant public entity, is that racism and cancer are kind of the easy stuff. 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. And to be sure, Atlanta is better than what we saw in the actions of a few last night. Statement from Arthur Blank on the 2020 election - Atlanta Falcons With Labels, Listen to Affected Populations, Not Activists, As With Alcohol, Mitigation, Not Prohibition, Is the Answer, It Seems Democrats Are Blundering Badly (Again) with Their All-Abortion, All-the-Time Campaign. 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! 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. Arthur Blank releases statement on Georgia voting rights 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. Seventy percent of the players in the NFL are African American a disproportionate number. 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. Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. This is not a good way to make a living. j"[p!d~oB?1].drwe GM]/v2q3^u[\ /. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons - Sports Illustrated 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. He notes pervasive cynicism about corporate leaders and perceptions that the drive for profit comes at the expense of public good. Arthur Blank is firmly in Joe Biden's corner. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention. Players and coaches appear giving quick testimonials. 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. There was a six-year period in there, when things went a little south. I mean, you know, all those things. All Rights Reserved. So I'm happy to see that, you know, he came back to Atlanta and spent time here. Arthur Blank on NFL kneelers: 'Players have no interest in being I, like almost everyone else, had already started celebrating at halftime. Can We Please Kill Off the Tipping Mumbo-Jumbo? a guy regularly reviled by sportswriters, players and fans as a (very wealthy) toxic idiot. << This is chaos. So we designed our stadium to accommodate not just for the Atlanta Falcons and National Football League football American football but soccer as well. America has long struggled to deliver a fair and equitable democracy to all of its citizens. Blank's statement did not specify any initiatives or call any elected officials or political parties by name. 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. But the two subsequent CEOs the gentleman there today, Craig Minear, the CEO and president Ted Decker both live the culture. This can create a steady stream of jobs and revenue for the community. 1 0 obj Kimball previously served as the vice president of network support at Teach for All. 7) He shares how he and Bernie Marcus were brusquely fired from executive positions at Handy Dan Home Improvement Stores the humiliating inflection point that led the pair to create The Home Depot. It's good to be different, said Blank, but he said it's the intolerance of some that worries him about the future. 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]. His percentage of giving back from his estate will be equal to mine and some of his philosophies don't exactly match mine. I mean, it doesn't make a difference how old you are. /Subtype /Image Sign up for notifications from Insider! GALEO has also handed out flyers at city events, supermarkets, and churches that target Latinos. [Thats] something that I talk about in the book, which most people are not aware of. 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. You need to figure out something else to do for the rest of your life. And after a while, he said, Would you please shut up? And she never did. Continued: https://t.co/yePGJUaGVV, Ive got a lot of love and respect for police officers., We dont want to see Targets burning. 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. Like all stories meant to inspire, he takes some knocks. Arthur M. Blank is responsible for the sorry state of the Falcons. endobj Liz Cheney Aint Going Nowhere in This Republican Party, Jensens Abortion Ban Promises Come Back to Haunt Him, Thanks to Oppo. "I know Bernie's heart. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images). Arthur Blank - InfluenceWatch - InfluenceWatch And so from there, since the 2001- 2002 season, we've only had three games that were not sold out during the season. Is the Jensen-Birk Campaign Minnesotas WOAT? Kemp and the law's backers said it provides some common-sense reformsto ensure elections are secure. And it was early on a Sunday morning. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman. You can do whatever you choose to do. 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. Arthur Blank On Michael Vick, Bernie Marcus, And How He'd Run The U.S. 5 Other Blank family businesses include the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore as well as a handful of ranches across the country. I do know it is hard. But Its All Too Familiar. 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. That Vote for Secretary of State? $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? /Producer ( Q t 4 . More must be done to bring people together through meaningful change. It doesn't mean we agree on everything, we don't, but that's healthy," he said. A reckless high-profile meathead, now out the $60 million remaining on his contract. There's no place for looting and stealing and whatever else. >> The largest donor was Falcons owner Arthur Blank. Brian Dowling And Arthur Gourounlian Surrogacy Documentary Announced But it's really not a story about dogfighting. I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. And he recently gave $250,000 to committees supporting Joe Biden, Forbes reported. /ca 1.0 (Airlines resisting vaccination mandates for passengers are another prime example of failure of true leadership.) Marcus handed the CEO reigns to Blank in 1997; Blank held the position until a new president and CEO was hired in 2000. But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor @KeishaBottoms said last night!
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