And next thing I know, he was sitting on his knees and with a gun to his head. 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. The organization works directly with election officials to maintain accurate and complete voter lists and to secure their election technology infrastructure. I mean, those fans, they feel like that's the only sport that we're hosting in that stadium. 7, Blank founded the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995 and has awarded over $560 million to causes such as education and early childhood development. So I'm happy to see that, you know, he came back to Atlanta and spent time here. And part of that is reducing our environmental impact.. 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. Blank donated another $35,500 to the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Liz Cheney Aint Going Nowhere in This Republican Party, Jensens Abortion Ban Promises Come Back to Haunt Him, Thanks to Oppo. 4 0 obj They were trying to indicate that what the military had fought for these rights, the civil rights, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc. It starts with respect. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention. Falcons GM comments on pursuing Deshaun Watson last offseason Seventy-threethousand stood up and clapped, gave him a great hand. Good Company is billed as a visionary road-map for creating successful businesses. You can do whatever you choose to do. Its more like cowardly, and meatheaded. Arthur Blank Politics, Foundation, Businesses, Net Worth NFL Owner Political Donations: Who Gave to Obama AND Rubio? - The Big Lead In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. More must be done to address systemic racism. It's a beautiful thing. These are not political issues, they are human issues that need serious, earnest attention from leaders and . 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. In the 1940sGeorgia mountains, eight children were taken into the woods and left to die. 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. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. And I think this should be addressed out of respect and out of listening.". $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? 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. 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. Players and coaches appear giving quick testimonials. But, you know, I needed to change my view on what I could give back and how it could be connected to other people.. 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. And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images), WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), >> Go home. A documentary surrounding Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian's surrogacy journey is set to air on RT on March 13. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. I still remember this as if it was yesterday. OMG, Democrats Are Criminally Bad At Marketing What They Accomplish. And I remember he told me, he said, You know, when [I went into] the prison system, they gave me three pair of underwear, three shirts, three pair slacks, three socks and one pair of shoes, and that was it. He said, That was all I was going to have, as opposed to the lifestyle he was leading before. America has long struggled to deliver a fair and equitable democracy to all of its citizens. If you don't make good choices, you can end up being in really bad places. 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. 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But my mother would say to me, You know, what you have to say is important. You know, better than in the 40s and 50s, but not where we should be. One where guys like the Vikings Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. In 2014 it emerged that Bruce Levenson, who owned the NBAs Atlanta Hawks, had written an email that amongst other things theorized that the black crowd [at Philips Arena] scared away the whites, adding for good measure: I have even bitched that the kiss cam is too black. Levenson later that year sold his stake in the franchise, and the Hawks have worked hard to win back their black audience. Blank's statement did not specify any initiatives or call any elected officials or political parties by name. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. Arthur Blank on Trump policies: 'Troubled by anything that 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 - Forbes (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.) 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. And my mother was giving him a lecture saying, You realize this is not what your parents would want you to do. 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. "He cares deeply about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. 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. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz This is not the legacy of civil rights in America. stream 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. I mean, people were throwing tea off those boats because they were protesting, you know. He would say, I don't need to be cut any slack, you know. And then he worked in the laundry. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I stayed in touch with him to some degree when he was in prison. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This is chaos and were buying into it. We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. The Braves leaving town also represented an end to the multicultural hub in the heart of the city that was forged by those Olympics. He and his brother, Michael, were raised in a one-bedroom apartment. He owns the team, after all. 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. Big Game by New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich, BLM Has Achieved Much More Than Its Critics. 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. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is located adjacent to the Falcons current home, the Georgia Dome, in Atlantas Westside. 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. Arthur Blank, owner of Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, co-founder of Home Depot . Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons owner and co-founder of Home Depot) 2020Joe Biden 2016Hillary Clinton 2012Barack Obama Maxine Clark (founder and former CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop) 2016Hillary Clinton Michael Eisner (former CEO of Disney) 2016Marco Rubio, then later Hillary Clinton 2016Kamala Harris Jack M. Greenberg (former CEO of McDonald's) Our history of voting rights is a constant struggle, a repetitive cycle of expansion followed by restriction. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. A reckless high-profile meathead, now out the $60 million remaining on his contract. "It's healthy to disagree on things, but it's not acceptable to not be kind.". And I love him. Hes a combination of father and brother to me. Arthur M. Blank Foundation donates over $5 million for mental health But Still Not Even an Indictment. No. 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. In his new book, Good Company, Blank follows his own success to show that purpose and profit can and should coexist. It's the fans. Michael Vicks published letter, Atlanta, nearly made a whole city cry on the eve of the Super Bowl. If executed improperly, this stadium could continue a long line of broken promises for this blighted community. Blank is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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?. Scott Jensens Dramatic Fall Shows Ads Still Matter. Arthur Blank, Tyler Perry speak out about protests, riots 16 Blanks son, Kenny Blank, also sits on the foundations board and is the executive director of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. 9. I mean, everybody's standing for an hour-and-a-half and they just don't sit down. JFIF K K C I want you to talk to 10 of your friends. So there wasn't a word on the other end of the phone. My dad didn't look at who it was. We sold out the entire stadium in two-and-a-half hours. But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor @KeishaBottoms said last night! Organizations also called to move The Masters, which begins April 8. More must be done to address the underlying issues that have led to these incidents across the country. This isnt just a short-cut, this is a long-term play with significant input and investment into the community and its future, said Scott Jenkins, the general manager of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, to The Daily Beast. We've broken every season ticket record per game. One of the robbers tied me up in the bathroom, the bathtub, and I said a few things to him, which, at 10 years old, I don't think my mother even knew I knew those words. I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. And in fact, one of her famous expressions was: You do the right things for the right reasons and live with the consequences of them. And I'm trying to build that into my life as well. Open, honest dialogue is needed on a much greater scale. 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. Political Affiliations of Retail Leaders - liveabout.com Please, please stop this violence!! 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. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. That Vote for Secretary of State? I love CNN, I love Cartoon Network. And then he came up to my suite afterward and it was like 10, 15 minutes later, his face was just full of tears and he said that he was so moved by it. It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. These are the kinds of people we need in leadership today, not thinking about red, blue, purple. Brian Kemp signed SB 202 into law. GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. To anyone interested in a deeper dive into NFL culture I strongly recommend, Big Game by New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich for an inside-the-suites sense of who says what to who when its more or less just them peer billionaires talking. 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. Its a story about making bad choices and the impact of young people. All those 25,000 tickets were gone. Blank also contributed $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008. That is the change we need in this country.". The Number of White Teachers About to Get Fired is Exactly Zero. a guy regularly reviled by sportswriters, players and fans as a (very wealthy) toxic idiot. And being a good listener, it's an art form that we all can possess. "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. I said, Look, I'm going to be a new owner, tell me what I can do to help. 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. Did the Vikings and NFL Just Blacklist Another Left-Leaning Player? When I left [Home Depot] in 2001, [it] was the second largest retailer in the world, second only to Wal-Mart. 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? Continued: https://t.co/yePGJUaGVV, Ive got a lot of love and respect for police officers., We dont want to see Targets burning. Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. /Subtype /Image In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. 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. 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. Arthur Blank responsible for sorry state of Falcons - ajc The Atlanta Falcons new stadium is going to be beautiful. But I know that his essence, at his heart and his soul, is a really good person that cares deeply about humanity. !, And listen to me, be careful where you are getting your information to JOIN protests!! They survived. Porn Star Pay Offs, Inciting Insurrection, Sexual Assaults, Bank Fraud, Election Conspiracy and FoxNews v. Dominion. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. Given its footprint, we have good rights to expect a lot more from this monolith. 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