,> U#kw1%dHT6qZq]9Ki o Its more like cowardly, and meatheaded. Stop feeding fear and anger every day. follow. 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. 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. Left to right: Dennis Ross, Arthur Blank, Bernie Marcus, Pat Farrah, Ron Brill. So I would just cut him some slack. 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. We were living in a single-bedroom apartment in Queens. 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. It's a beautiful thing. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. Scott Jensens Unanswered $15,000,000,000 Question. 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. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. 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. How do I do my part in it? 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. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is weighing in on Georgia's sweeping overhaul of election laws. Now, there's no place for violent protest. The family foundation has already invested over $20 million into the surrounding community. /ca 1.0 And next thing I know, he was sitting on his knees and with a gun to his head. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke with reporters during a 10-minute teleconference from the Super Bowl. I'll flip words around, you know, subconsciously and, and make sentences complete. We sit down with New York Times theater critic Jesse Green to discuss Rodgers' autobiography, Shy. We believe that voting rights are critically important, and our home state of Georgia is at the center of the struggle. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman. There's no place for looting and stealing and whatever else. When you burn down this city, youre burning down our community., If you want change in America, go and register to vote. 3 0 obj endobj Blank donated another $35,500 to the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Friday on Political Rewind: Mary Rodgers grew up among some of Broadway's biggest names, from Sondheim to Bernstein. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Georgia Secretary of State calls many election changes 'solid', study by ESPN and FiveThirtyEight in October 2020, too restrictive and targets minority voters, Cobb leader says moving MLB All-Star game in protest would hurt business, Democrats dispute police report in Georgia lawmakers arrest, Civil rights groups file new lawsuit over Georgia voting law, Photos show rescue of Woodstock man 'buried up to his neck' in collapsed trench, Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Sheriff's office continues five-year-long search for missing Carrollton man, Georgia baby girl reported missing with man diagnosed with mental illness, police say, Jesse Wilson: Adoptive mother arrested in boy's death in Arizona, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, Young Thug trial: Judge orders probe of leaked evidence, Families intensify search for two men missing for more than a week. 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. I still remember this as if it was yesterday. I mean, I was stuttering when I was senior class president, [and in] student government. 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? But I know that his essence, at his heart and his soul, is a really good person that cares deeply about humanity. And, you know, living in poverty, we had friends coming by all the time and what have you. But you want your core values to be the same, ideally. Arthur Blank co-founded the Home Depot in the late 1970s after being fired from a regional hardware store chain in Southern California. 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. 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. And it was early on a Sunday morning. 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. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Arthur%2BBlank&contributor_employer=The%2BArthur&two_year_transaction_period=2016&contributor_state=GA, https://www.ajc.com/news/local/molly-blank-strong-widow-grew-successful-business-sons/JMYrzmcGsGc4nXD58rqltJ/, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197614, https://corporate.homedepot.com/sites/default/themes/thd/images/timeline/History-Of-The-Home-Depot.pdf, https://www.forbes.com/profile/arthur-blank/?sh=ae7b330749c3, https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/front-office-roster/arthur-blank, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/arthur-m-blank/, https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/statement-from-arthur-blank-on-georgia-voting-rights, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/11/companies-voting-bills-states/, https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/arthur-blank-wife-angela-are-getting-a-divorce/897352464/, https://saportareport.com/a-longtime-anonymous-donor-reveals-her-identity/sections/abcarticles/maria_saporta/, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/dena-kimball/, https://blankfoundation.org/trustee/kenny-blank/. And somebody knocked on the door. This is not the legacy of civil rights in America. When GALEO was established, Georgias Latino community was not well represented, nor was it a viable electoral force; today, there are over 385,000 registered Latino voters in the state. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. 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. No. All of which is, yknow, really classy stuff. So, I would say it was very successful. 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. Their frustration is real, and it must be acknowledged and addressed. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. And it's all connected not only to associates, but to the communities in which we live and operate. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. We had the option of going to a variety of companies, doing a variety of things in a traditional sense of management leadership. Blank's statement did not specify any initiatives or call any elected officials or political parties by name. (Confidentiality, you know.) Not about dogfighting. So I think that part of that comes out of really being a good listener and responding to what you're hearing and trying to find a way to make things work for the benefit of everybody collaboratively. Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. The NFL owners club is a remarkable collection of avaricious gargoyles. 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) my patience level probably is not the level it would have to be to sustain myself in this political atmosphere today. Arthur Blank is worried that capitalism is getting a bad rap. United States, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. I know you see my partner, Bernie, on Fox News very often. 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]. 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. I remember I called the commissioner then, who was Paul Tagliabue, and I say, Well, Paul, I have this idea. I mean, those fans, they feel like that's the only sport that we're hosting in that stadium. CEIR works to build voter trust and confidence, increase voter participation and improve the efficiency of election administration. How? So, you know, soccer is on the ascent in the United States dramatically, which is a great thing. The documentary will premiere exclusively Nov. 23, 2020 at 8 p.m.on Georgia Public Broadcasting. People are scared and in pain. They want to have a home-field advantage. 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. So when we started, MLS was ranked like 22nd among all the leagues in the world. One where guys like the Vikings Mark and Zygi Wilf and Arthur (Home Depot) Blank of the Atlanta Falcons come off as comparatively rational. They survived. And to be sure, Atlanta is better than what we saw in the actions of a few last night. /Width 625 I love CNN, I love Cartoon Network. 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. Well, I shouldn't say I'm not. And that's all part of his story of redemption and his story of being a changed person. Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! (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.) 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. Big Game by New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich, BLM Has Achieved Much More Than Its Critics. GPB intern Eva Rothenberg contributed to this article. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. The system has worked well for the multi-billionaire and co-founder of The Home Depot. 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? Brian Kemp signed the controversial bill, which includes new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run. In his new book, Good Company, Blank follows his own success to show that purpose and profit can and should coexist. This is not a protest. Arthur blank politics The largest donation made to a political party by an Atlanta Falcons employee was by Arthur Blank. It is my hope that we take this terrible moment in our history to elevate that conversation toward productive action and lasting, positive change. 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. But in any event, that was part of just being a good listener. I have many friends who are no longer fervent Braves supporters. Pictured is the famous napkin deal that sealed Arthur Blanks agreement with Taylor Smith to purchase the Atlanta Falcons for $545 million in 2001. 12, Blank has been married three times. 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. And I think we got disconnected. I felt and others felt that we could be successful here. It's the fans. He would say, I don't need to be cut any slack, you know. Soccer fans don't want to feel like they go into a stadium and they're a second-class citizen citizen. When I left [Home Depot] in 2001, [it] was the second largest retailer in the world, second only to Wal-Mart. And there are two [robbers] and they want to know, "Where's the money, where's the cash?" During the 2020 elections, Blank contributed $300,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, $35,000 to the Democratic National Convention, and tens of thousands of dollars to state Democratic Party committees. And Blanks role in this project extends beyond the stadium. Bernardo Little . 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, long story short, I think, is that we should recognize the past, understand the progress we have made. Organizations also called to move The Masters, which begins April 8. So I'm happy to see that, you know, he came back to Atlanta and spent time here. Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. I stayed in touch with him to some degree when he was in prison. I listen to what he says and sometimes I'll cringe. We are better than this We are better than this as a country. Blank retired as Home Depot's co-chairman in. Despite being widowed at a young age, his mother managed the familys mail-order pharmaceutical business and sold it to a large retail conglomerate. 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. Your support makes this possible. "I know what he cares about and he cares about a lot of the same things that I care about.". That coming the day before the New York Times dropped the bomb(s) about Gruden calling the NFL commissioner a faggot, ripping the leagues concussion protocols, (in other words, Grudens pro-concussion) and trading nudie pictures of cheerleaders. How could Trump possibly have lost re-election? GALEO engages in advocacy, creates opportunities for engagement and networking, and develops leadership skills for Latino community members. Blank allowed the previous front office to make shortsighted moves that still are costing the. 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. And so he's used that time since he got out of prison and giving back to community, speaking to young people. stream 5 Other Blank family businesses include the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore as well as a handful of ranches across the country. The largest donor was Falcons owner Arthur Blank. 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. Paul, are you OK? I was going to call his secretary, thinking Paul got a heart attack or something. Arthur Blank, owner of Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, co-founder of Home Depot . "It's healthy to disagree on things, but it's not acceptable to not be kind.". 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. I suspect he had help. What Does Hamline Not Understand About Academic Freedom? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I, like almost everyone else, had already started celebrating at halftime. Theres at least one more level to the Jon Gruden disaster that NFL fans should consider about the leagues remarkable influence. Blank also owns Atlantas Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a sports and entertainment facility valued at $1.5 billion that hosted the 2019 Super Bowl. 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:. The foundation is . At the time, Atlanta liked to call itself The City Too Busy to Hate, but as more African Americans moved to the city the moniker shifted to The City Too Busy Moving to Hate, as more white Atlantans escaped the city to the northern suburbs. that those rights were not being fully reflected in our society today. 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. But its the NFL itself that should be held to greater account and responsibility than it ever is. With Enemies Like Scott Jensen, Who Needs Friends? /Producer ( Q t 4 . Arthur Blanks brother, Michael, and his father, Max, are photographed outside the OES Pharmacy family business, in 1940. 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. America has long struggled to deliver a fair and equitable democracy to all of its citizens. 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. I mean, people were throwing tea off those boats because they were protesting, you know. Arthur Blank is an American entrepreneur and a co-owner of the home improvement retail giant The Home Depot. Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. We need to recognize those truths. And part of that is reducing our environmental impact.. In 1978, they were both fired from Handy Dans by a corporate raider who took over the chains parent company. I was gagged. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. You know, dig in [your] heels and it becomes, "My territory, your territory," etc. . "I know Bernie's heart. /AIS false Georgia Politics FOX 5 Atlanta ATLANTA - Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United Owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday afternoon he believes voting should be made "easier, not harder for every eligible. 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. Arthur Blank talks sensible gun reform. ATLANTA Protests over the death of George Floyd have been gaining national attention. This must happen more than every four years, because theres no offseason for democracy. 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. In 1989, the company opened its 100th store. But I would keep raising my hand. 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. Brian Kemp signed SB 202 into law. They all live life with purpose. 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. 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. The couple filed for divorce in 2013. They put my mother, my brother and I in the living room with one of them and the other was searching the house, looking for cash that wasn't there. It had to do with our set of values.". 4, Blank purchased the NFLs Atlanta Falcons for more than $540 million shortly after stepping down as CEO of Home Depot. 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. The Falcons leadership knows how to play politics. In 1978, both he and future Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank were fired during a corporate power struggle at Handy Dan. So there wasn't a word on the other end of the phone. I do know it is hard. I said, Paul? If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. However, many Americans are still being denied access to their vote and their ability to fully participate in our democracy.

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