Mystery $100M donation lifts Pa. city

Source: Associated Press

ERIE, Pa. - Mike Batchelor invited the heads of 46 charities into his downtown office for one-on-one meetings to personally deliver the news. Nearby, on a small table, sat a box of tissues.

And then he proceeded: A donor had given a staggering $100 million to the Erie Community Foundation, and all of the charities would receive a share.

That was when the tears began to flow — and the mystery began — in this struggling old industrial city of 102,000 on Lake Erie, where the donor is known only as "Anonymous Friend."

Batchelor, president of the Erie Community Foundation, has been sworn to secrecy and will allow only that the donor worked with the organization for years to identify deserving recipients before the announcement over the summer.

Is the donor dead or alive? No comment, Batchelor says. What is the donor's connection to Erie? No comment.

The talk about the gift has taken an interesting turn in recent weeks: As much as everyone here would like to know their benefactor's identity, many are also reluctant to pry.

"My feeling is that we're not honoring the donor if we spend time speculating about it," says Rebecca Brumagin, executive director at the Achievement Center, which provides physical therapy and other services to children. The center, which serves 3,200 children a year, will get $2 million.

"The needs are really great. So we will be able to help more children because of this," Brumagin says.

Kitty Cancilla cried when she learned the homeless shelter where she is executive director will get $2 million. Its previous largest donation was $25,000. Even now, Cancilla clutches a balled-up tissue and fights back tears as she talks about the gift.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/100_million_mystery

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Despite all the shit that's going on, people continue to do nice things for other people.

I don't know what more to say.

Even though I am an atheist, this calls to mind something my dad would say when witnessing selflessness: There's a special place in heaven for people like that.

IMO the works of this generous individual will live on long after they are gone and that is the way to achieve immortality.

Julie

Also have a special place on earth! Think of all the people who will carry their generosity forward.

so many cities in the rust-belt states hit so hard with everything lately.

...and that's one hell of a lot of money in a place like Erie. It would be a lot of money in NE Ohio where I grew up but in Erie it's a fucking king's ransom.

to those well deserving charities. I can understand why tears fell.

I hope the benefactor included trustworthy money managers with the gift. That much money brings out some ugly bottom feeders.

Thanks for posting that.

Kudos to the wonderful person who donated to help. This comment has NOTHING to do with them.

However, this illustrates the mercy of people are to the wealth. Most do NOT share enough & we are a serf base
working for a small elite of corporate wealth.

Wealth distribution needs to change. This guilded age really sucks.

That is how this story is different than one where the donor makes a big announcement about it.

In other words, he/she gave back, expecting nothing in return - no named facilities, no statues, yadda yadda.

But yeah, concentration of wealth is out-of-control.

with a big announcement (like you said). This person is truly being a generous soul. I wonder if there's a story behind it. But no matter.

Or it could be like we do it here in Hooterville. (This is my funniest example.) A bunch of bored hausfraus married to money, like a certain obnoxious side of beef I can think of with money of her own, participate in one of Omaha's favorite forms of charity benefit. These little women all get together and put on fashion shows. That way they can pretend they're Heidi Klum or whomever for one night and get some much-deserved (so they think) kudos for their generousity. Of course, if it was done in the true spirit of charity, they wouldn't be prancing around pretending to be something they're not, a top model, a household name, a love goddess.

There's a rag that's published weekly or so that these people and their 'good works' are always displayed, full color photos and all. And I just laugh my ass off. Very few of them would be walking down that run-way if someone would just tell them how they really look. And just think, if they gave the money up front, no big pat to anyone's ego, they wouldn't have any expenses. Just imagine how much they could make.

I find the parable of the Widow's Mite to be very appropriate in this day and age. As the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen, the everyday charity of those with little to give is really what lifts my spirits.

The donation would have been a lot less. A lot of very worthwhile things around the country went underfunded, and continue to go underfunded.

But maybe that's for the best because the current gang of idiots in the white house and the congress would only piss it away on some stupid war anyway.

:grr: :grr:

world who want to help others. Helping disabled kids is a biggy with me, having my own, as is helping the homeless and those in poverty.

Bless the giver, and may the gift be well used and appreciated.

That's wonderful to see someone motivated only by wanting to help others and not get anything back for it. Erie really needs that money.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

-- Jesus Christ, from the Sermon on the Mount

n/t

as it was discovered that ERIE supported John Kerry rather than George W Bush in the election--- a special one-time-only donation tax has been imposed upon the city by the Federal Commission of GimmeTheMoney. Evangalists have deemed this ERIE good luck on their support of a NO-sex policy on their playgrounds, BUT CLAIM that gays and lesbian interests could anger GOD and take the money away--- replacing it with HELLFIRE like you have never seen.

After reading this story you have to wonder how bad things have gotten in Erie and how many of our elderly all over the country are in similarly dire straits.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jhFK5Q7C3UeL_XvRnihzKGet5F_AD8SR8C8O1

Man, 70, Charged in Pa. Bank Holdup

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Police say a 70-year-old man told them he tried to solve his financial problems with a grocery bag, bandanna and a 50-year-old handgun that doesn't work.
Instead, Donald Cesare is in the Erie County Prison on federal bank robbery charges stemming from a holdup Thursday at the First National Bank in Millcreek Township.
Authorities say Cesare has no criminal record and immediately apologized for the robbery when they tracked him down based on his description. Cesare also wants to apologize to the teller, police said.
Cesare has applied for a federal public defender. Police said they found a gun and about $6,000 in a bag at his home.

I love hearing about people with money who actually use it for good, instead of just buying more sparkly baubles for themselves. That's a life changing amount of money for most (all?)of those charities. Thank you, very much, Mr./Ms. Anonymous Donor!

but this donor deserves a blessing - or whatever there is that's the worldly equivalent. ;-)

If I had the money to live without worrying about any catastrophe wiping my out. Then I would be sharing with anyone and everyone who needed it.

That town could use it.

I love this city, I moved away and then moved back. Born and raised here in NW PA, and proud of it. All you people see is the Brian Wells case and think of rust belt states. I would like to let you know that though manufacturing has taken a few hits over the years, the base is still strong. Our politics is overwhelmingly Democratic (how many of you can say that), with a paid Fire Department. A couple of strong unions, and every retail chain wants into our chamber of commerce, and our unemployment rate is 4.6%. Two major universities, Two private colleges, at least three tech schools and if you want a job, you got it. So a big fat donation from someone who loves this city. I say Rock and Roll.

Keep Erie Weird!

P.S.
It's ok to love Erie.

Don't mean to bust on you. After all, NYC has given us Rudy "The Cross dresser" Giuliani.

and flew kites on Presque Isle.

Glad to hear that Erie is doing well becuase when I was a kid it was hurting.

...also but my wife and I have technology careers and there's nothing up there for us.

Anonymous

Shameless plug for Presque Isle Downs:

http://www.presqueisledowns.com/

Come one, come all! Spend lots of money! ;)

I can say that this town is very much in need and is so deserving. Thank you anonymous friend!

It never went away.

It's always been that way in the south, and since they now have the demographic edge and increasingly the raw numbers, it'll be that way nationwide.

This is not news. It's been cooking since the 1970s, when industry began leaving the Rust Belt for Right to Work states such as Texas and Florida.

Get used to it or move.

that to be true charity, it must be anonymous. The reward of giving is in the giving itself.

Thanks for the thread, Tab.:thumbsup:

SHOULD THE ANON GIFTER HAVE ANOTHER $100 MILLION, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 1 (800) SHO-WME2

I HEAR THAT IT IS A GREATER GIFT TO GIVE, SO I LEAVE THE GREATER PART TO YOU


------ IN A RELATED STORY....
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IF YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER OFFERINGS AROUND THE USA PLEASE POST THEM
***(IN SOME CASES FREE MEANS BUY ONE GET THE SECOND ONE FREE)

Cheney was offering a free hunting trip to all DU'ers

You never know...

How does this bash Obama, Clinton or Edwards?

Great mystery person,knows what is the right thing to do.
Wish more rich people had that kind of heart.Things would not be so bad as they are now if more rich people would grow some empathy.Like this mystery donor did for Erie. And the fact he remains a mystery, that is what giving really is all about.Just giving.

Dear Anonymous Donor:
May your heart be blessed forever!

I bet the needs are great considering the focus of this country right now.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Story on this:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07315/832641-85.stm

Reported in the Erie Times on October 17, 2007:
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710170366

The organization making the payments:
http://www.eriecommunityfoundation.org/

in veterans' public housing.

I can't help but wonder if a guilty conscience got to him...

I don't think about buying mansions and sports cars... I dream about how many people I could give it away to.... the only thing I want is enough money to travel and see places/people/things I couldn't otherwise see.

Just a simple place to crash, and money so I can care for my stray kitty friends. Oh, but she is crazy for expensive shoes, so that would be the only thing we'd splurge on.

It definately needs the boost, so that so many people don't have to leave, like me.

There used to be a seemingly homeless senior woman who pushed a cart of trash around downtown Erie on Parade Street, all day long, every day, but who happened to wealthy, in actuality. She was still there, the last time I visited a few years ago. I wonder If she were the anonymous donator?