Governor Shumlin held a press conference today, thanking Vermont’s “Corporate Angels” who have donated to disaster relief. He was joined by some of the higher profile angels in an effort, not simply to show gratitude, but naturally to encourage even more support. Via the press release, the angels in attendance (and their corporations’ respective contributions) were:
- Vermont Public Radio President Robin Turnau: $627,000 from a one-day fundraiser.
- Green Mountain Coffee Roaster President and CEO Larry Blanford: $250,000 donation.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont President and CEO Don George: $150,000 donation.
- National Life President and CEO Mehran Assadi: $120,000 donation.
- President and CEO of Subaru of New England Ernie Boch Jr.: $100,000 donation.
- Northfield Savings Bank President and CEO Thomas Pelletier: $100,000 donation.
- IGG Software Inc. President Dr. Ian Gillespie: $30,000 donation.
- Coca-Cola: $25,000 donation
Great stuff to be sure (even if the amount from Coca-Cola probably amounts to little more than the annual income from a few vending machines). It’s encouraging to see that kind of money moving where it’s desperately needed.
Unfortunately, while the phrase “corporate angels” sounds catchy, it’s been taken a few times over.
There is, for example, the Corporate Angel Network, which provides free flights for cancer patients on corporate jets. There’s a Corporate Angels “angel” investing network (not too creative naming there, to be sure). There are “corporate angels” supporting the Global Angels charity, which helps disadvantaged children and communities. There’s a “corporate angels” company that provides administrative support for business. And so on…
I’m just sayin’: don’t forget to Google.
Several of those are the very same companies that wouldn’t hesitate to turn around and stab the state in the back if it suited their purposes (or have been undermining everything Vermont stands for with their lobbying efforts for years).
Not saying that it isn’t awfully nice of them to do their part — corporations are people, after all, or so we’re told, and what person wouldn’t show compassion for “his” fellow “man”? — but “angels”? Really?
So, that loud sucking sound isn’t the clean-up in the Mad River Valley, it’s Shumlin’s lips firmly planted on his donor’s butts. Very unbecoming.
grease ball Valley??? Surely he cant think just putting fresh flowers in the bathroom is enough in these times of need….
Doesn’t he have his hand in just about every Vermonter’s pocket with his monopolistic approach on gas and LP in the state?
He got to be a Bush Ranger and assbassador to somewhere inconsequential by bundling crap loads of money for the people who already have a lot, wonder if he is insensitive to regular people’s lives???
And where is Waterbury’s and Vermont’s premier success story, Ben & Jerry’s homemade? I have heard of no significant donations from them. Perhaps news of the disaster hasn’t reached Unilever yet?