ATLANTA – With much of the world currently fighting the global pandemic COVID-19, the Arthur M. Blank Foundation announced yesterday that they would be funding nearly $5.4 million for immediate and long-term recovery assistance to organizations providing critical support throughout the states of Georgia and Montana.
“As a Family Foundation we have always believed that it is the power of many that will make the greatest impact on the most pressing issues in our society,” said Arthur M. Blank, Chairman of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “This is that moment – to join together to truly harness the power of all of us to address a challenge that knows no boundaries and has no precedent in our lifetimes.”
Arthur M. Blank is a prominent figure in the Georgia community, owning several businesses in the Atlanta area including two professional sports teams in the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer.
In Atlanta, the Arthur M. Blank Foundation is granting $5 million to the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund established by United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
United Way of Greater Atlanta CEO Milton J. Little, Jr. thanked the Arthur M. Blank Foundation for their generosity saying, “Thank you to The Arthur M. Blank Foundation for their generous investment in the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The Foundation’s gift will give our children, families, communities and the nonprofits who support them across Greater Atlanta the resources they need during a time of great economic crisis. Our leaders continue to step up and support the residents of our great city and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
The Arthur M. Blank Foundation will also grant emergency response investments in Park and Gallatin counties in Montana with $50,000 granted to Hopa Mountain, another $50,000 to the HRDC, $25,000 to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, $20,000 to the Healthy Gallatin Campaign, and another $20,000 to The Livingston Food Resource Center. These grants will assist the immediate needs of the Native American and Latino communities in Montana, many of whom have been completely displaced by the closing of hospitality venues.
These newest donations from Blank and his foundation come in addition to the recent news that Blank is committed to continue paying the hourly employees affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. That includes employees of the Falcons and Blank’s Atlanta United Major League Soccer team, as well as employees of Mercedes-Benz Stadium where both teams play.
In total, Mr. Blank has granted more than $560 million through the foundation and his family’s personal giving to various charitable organizations and these newest grants should assist greatly in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Written by Brian Pohl
