You're right for once: you are a deluded internet character. I'm glad that you finally 'fessed up to something, although frankly most of us suspected as much.
For example, you described FirstPlus executives as being greedy. Below is what the Boys and Girls Club of America had to say about the CEO of FP. I wonder if the FP short scam will wind up taking money away from worthy charities and feed the greed of the shorts that start these scams. Probably so.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- It is truly the ''summer of goodwill'' for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) as today, during the 1998 Goodwill Games, Dan and Merlene Phillips pledged a total of $25 million over several years to support the organization's educational programs for disadvantaged children. The gift is the single largest financial donation from a living individual to a youth service organization, according to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The couple are founders of the recently-established Phillips Family Foundation. Mr. Phillips is chairman and CEO of FIRSTPLUS Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FP - news), a diversified consumer finance company and the nation's leader in high loan to value (LTV) lending. Both the company and foundation are based in Dallas.
Time Warner vice chairman and Goodwill Games founder Ted Turner made the announcement today on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Phillips, at their request, with Rick Goings, chairman of B&GCA.
The couple stated that the new focus of the Goodwill Games on helping youth, and the decision by Turner to name B&GCA as the Games' official charity and donate one million dollars to the Clubs through the TBS SuperChallenge campaign, influenced their decision.
Today's $25 million pledge represents a $23 million commitment added to two recent announcements by the Phillips Family Foundation of separate, one million dollar gifts to B&GCA.
''In keeping with the spirit of the Goodwill Games, which has dedicated this year's event to benefit children, we felt it was most fitting to increase our pledge,'' said Merlene Phillips, executive director of the foundation. ''We can think of no better investment to make than in the education of our nation's youth.''
The Phillips Family Foundation's support will enable B&GCA to expand its educational programs in more than 2,000 Clubs across the country. Clubs will provide homework help, tutorial assistance and computer training to more members. Space will be allocated within the Clubs for ''learning centers'' where youngsters develop good study habits in a safe, supervised environment. The comprehensive initiative will also facilitate collaborations between local Clubs and schools in order to develop individualized plans for Club members to maximize their academic success.
Crisis in Education, Turner and Powell Influence Decision
The decision by the Phillips family to support B&GCA's educational programs was influenced by frequent reports reflecting crisis conditions in American secondary education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. ''We were looking for a way to give back to the community, and our first thought was higher education,'' said Mrs. Phillips. ''But when we read various reports about American high school students testing among the worst in the world in math and science, while our colleges and universities are ranked among the best, we reprioritized. It made more sense to focus our giving where it is needed most.''
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips also cited another individual whose commitment to youth development inspired their decision: General Colin Powell.
Since chairing the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in 1997, which evolved into the youth advocacy organization America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, General Powell has campaigned tirelessly to encourage all Americans to volunteer their ''time, talent and treasure'' in support of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. At a B&GCA dinner in New York on June 2 which honored Powell, Mr. & Mrs. Phillips announced their first one million dollar gift to B&GCA, crediting General Powell's influence.
Mr. Phillips Cites His Own Club Experience
Having belonged to a Boys & Girls Club while growing up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Dan Phillips knows firsthand how Clubs can supplement classroom education. ''I'm a big believer that Boys & Girls Clubs can make a real difference in helping many thousands of kids overcome their negative circumstances at home and enhancing the education they receive in school,'' said Phillips.
As the nation's fastest-growing youth organization, B&GCA has identified educational enhancement as a top priority. In its long-range strategic plan announced earlier this year, B&GCA focused on education and its importance in bringing about a ''generational change'' in the young people it serves. ''Only through educational advancement will we break the cycle of failure and dependency facing so many of America's youth,'' said Rick Goings, B&GCA chairman. ''If we can help our children excel academically, they will not only benefit during their own lives, but will pass on their success and positive values to their own children and succeeding generations. We are fortunate to have benefactors such as the Phillips who share this vision and are willing to help make it happen.''
Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of more than 2,000 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 2.8 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Clubs provide character development programs on a daily basis for children 6 - 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. In addition to educational enhancement, other key programs emphasize career exploration, drug and alcohol avoidance, health and fitness, gang and violence prevention, cultural enrichment, leadership development and community service.
The Phillips Family Foundation was established in the summer of 1998 by Daniel T. and Merlene Phillips of Dallas, Texas. It provides financial support to the Greater Dallas community and to disadvantaged boys and girls across the nation. For more information, contact Curt Bassett, Senior Philanthropic Consultant at Merrill Lynch Family Office Group at the following e-mail address: curt_bassett@ml.com.
SOURCE: Boys & Girls Clubs of America |
