Arthur Blank, the billionaire owner of the Atlanta Falcons who is pushing for greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the United States, is a prolific Democratic donor.
At a National Football League owners meeting on Tuesday, Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and a member of the NFL’s DEI committee, said diversity and inclusion efforts should be a major priority in the country.
“The notion of pluralism and acceptance of everyone based on who they are and what they are and what they can do, etc., that should be the top priority for our nation,” Blank said, according to The Athletic. “And certainly in terms of job placement, job opportunities, things like that. So, politically or socially, I wouldn’t be in favor of it” (returning the DEI effort).
“DEI covers us all, whether you’re white or black or Hispanic or whatever you are,” he continued. “So I would be very against it.
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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said DEI’s efforts should be the nation’s “top priority.” (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Blank has been a major supporter of democratic causes, giving millions of dollars to various campaigns and committees in recent years.
During the 2022 election cycle, Blank donated $800,000 to the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund, a joint fundraising venture consisting of the Democratic National Committee, all 50 state Democratic parties and the District of Columbia Democratic Committee, federal filings show.
Blank donated $2 million to the Senate Majority PAC, a Super PAC allied with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, during the 2020 election cycle. The Schumer-affiliated committee pours large sums into the campaigns of Democratic candidates running for the upper house of Congress nationwide.
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Blank serves on the NFL’s DEI committee. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Falcons owner added $300,000 to President Biden’s joint fundraising committee, maximizing donations to his campaign this cycle. He has also given $10,000 in donations to several state Democratic committees in Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and other areas.
Outside of his political donations, Blank previously contributed $17 million in 2021 to a civil rights museum in Atlanta and called for addressing the “fundamental issues” causing “systemic racism” after the 2020 George Floyd riots in Minnesota.
The NFL’s DEI report, released last week, states that “the hiring process for team leaders still needs to evolve, as does the thought process and evaluation criteria of many hiring managers – improved results must come from improved processes.”
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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has donated millions of dollars to Democrats. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
“Put simply, changing personal perspectives, perceptions, preferences, priorities and processes is essential to educating, educating, encouraging and empowering team owners and other key decision makers,” the report states.
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The league has reportedly approved policies recommending that every franchise hire external DEI consultants and that every club must have a DEI executive.
The Blank Family Foundation did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment on his donations.
Fox News Digital’s Ryan Gaydos contributed coverage.
Source : www.foxnews.com