Atlanta, January 11, 2006 — The Arthur M. Blank Family
Foundation today announced it has awarded $500,000 in grants that
will be shared among all four domestic U.S. operations of Outward
Bound, to help young people build character and gain self-esteem
through outdoor adventure. Foundation Chairman Arthur Blank is
a long-time supporter of the organization and serves as board
chairman of Outward Bound USA.
Grants will be distributed as follows:
- Outward Bound USA -- $330,000
- North Carolina Outward Bound School -- $60,000
- New York City Outward Bound Center -- $50,000
- Thompson Island (Boston, MA) Outward Bound Education Center -- $60,000
"My goal in making these grants is to help Outward Bound continue to impact
the lives of young people and to disburse the funds in a way that
most efficiently and directly reaches kids throughout the country,"
Blank said. "I see it as a long-term investment that can potentially
lift-up and strengthen these young people and have a positive effect
on others they will touch throughout their lives."
Outward Bound, the nation's leading, nonprofit experiential education
organization, emphasizes personal growth through experience and
challenge, and facilitates self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork,
confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship.
Outward Bound in 2005 celebrated 45 years of experiential education
in the United States, touching the lives of over 70,000 individuals
a year.
Since 1992, Blank personally or through his family foundation has contributed $6 million to Outward Bound organizations, including an endowment paid annually to the North Carolina Outward Bound School.
Founded in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is focused
on enhancing education, preserving green space, sustaining the arts
and sparking collaboration among its nonprofit partners, primarily
in Atlanta. Arthur M. Blank is owner & CEO of the Atlanta Falcons
and Georgia Force. He co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest
home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company
as co-chairman in 2001. Through his generosity, the foundation,
along with Blank and his wife's personal giving, has granted more than $220 million to various charitable organizations.
