Arthur Blank Family Foundation

Atlanta, December 14, 2007 – The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced it has awarded $600,000 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. His term as Outward Bound chairman expires this month.

Grants for general operating support will be distributed as follows:

Outward Bound USA – $414,000
North Carolina Outward Bound – $66,000
New York City Outward Bound – $54,000
Thompson Island (Boston, MA) Outward Bound -- $66,000

"My goal is to help Outward Bound continue to impact the lives of young people and to disburse the funds in a way that most directly reaches kids throughout the country," Blank said. "This is 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 $9 million to Outward Bound organizations, including an endowment 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.