Businessman donates million dlrs for hardluck inaugural bash

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A US businessman inspired by president-elect Barack Obama's message of hope and change said Thursday he will donate a million dollars to give hundreds of disadvantaged Americans the chance to attend inauguration festivities next month.

"The Lord spoke to me," said Earl Stafford, who in 2002 founded his Stafford Foundation to help poor Americans, as he explained what inspired his surprising act of largesse.

Stafford said the million-dollar gift will ensure that some underprivileged Americans have "a front-row seat to our nation's historic celebration."

The Virginia businessman said his foundation's gift will fund its "People's Inaugural Project" allowing hundreds of guests to stay cost-free at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Washington, just blocks from the White House.


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[lisa58]

1. How cool is that - I wish I was rich enough to do that!

[ksimons]

2. I hope he doesn't get screwed by someone who trips and falls -

some folks like to ruin it for everyone. they smell money and do whatever they can to get a part of it. fall down, blame the people who invited them, etc. oops, I wasn't talking about the big 3 or wall street or anything.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. someone needs to warn Harry Reid.

Remember he complained the other day about the "smelly" tourists in the Capitol?

Hordes of the great unwashed coming at ya, Harry..better skip the Inaugura this year.