Thank you, Luke.

I’m proud to accept this award on behalf of two people for whom I have limitless admiration.

Regardless of our personal backgrounds and experience, no matter where we come from or what brought us here tonight, all of us share in common with Stephanie and Arthur Blank an interest in our community and a desire for every individual to have opportunities for success.

We all want to believe that each human being determines his or her own future, that no one’s dreams are limited or restricted by societal barriers.

But these barriers do exist -- in education, in the workplace, in politics, in the economy -- and each of us has a responsibility to fight to ensure that these institutional and structural barriers continue to disappear.

Stephanie and Arthur believe this responsibility is important enough to be included in the value propositions of all of their civic and professional endeavors.

And they push the people who work with them – whether at the arthur m. blank family foundation or the atlanta falcons or the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana -- to embrace diverse ideas, to include those with different backgrounds and experiences, to seek to understand. they believe that each of our individual efforts in this regard will make our society stronger.

At the Blank Foundation, this philosophy is an integral part of our grantmaking and program focus.

Making sure every student has an opportunity to achieve his or her college and career goals;

Allowing every Atlanta resident access to greenspaces that inspire and connect communities;

Giving every small child the early learning opportunities and environments they need to grow, as well as every family the resources to take care of their children the best way possible;

And creating a space where every individual who has the desire can experience the art and music that opens hearts and minds to new ideas and cultures.

At Flowery Branch, it is upon these values that we will create a re-energized, competitive football team, with players whose diverse strengths and abilities complement one another.

Recognizing that we are more alike than different; seeking to understand one another’s point of view; having compassion for those without our advantages; daring to imagine a community that not only accepts – but cherishes diversity -- those are the values that are the bedrock of a fair and equitable society. those are the values stephanie and arthur are being recognized for this evening.

On behalf of Stephanie and Arthur Blank, I thank you and i applaud the work that each of you is doing to bring us together.