Va. man spends $1 million on inaugural package for disadvantaged

[Mari333]

updated 1 hour, 40 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - It was billed as the biggest, most eye-popping of the inauguration hotel packages: the JW Marriott's $1 million "build-your-own-ball" offer. You get 300 rooms, four suites, $200,000 worth of food and drink, and a primo site overlooking the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.

This morning, the Marriott is scheduled to announce that the buyer is a Virginia businessman who wants to bring to the inauguration disadvantaged people, terminally ill patients, wounded soldiers and others down on their luck.
















http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28050405/








now THATS what its all about!

[gblady]

1. that's very cool......

thanks for sharing.

[grasswire]

2. he wants 30 percent of the guests to be in that category

The rest of the spots will be sponsors, volunteers, and people from corporations he hope will contribute.

"We've gotten away from those core values that made America great," he said yesterday at the headquarters of his company, Unitech, which provides weapons simulation systems to the military. "We just need to get back to caring about one another."

[Jennicut]

3. Wow, I wish more people in business had his attitude.

What a great heart.

[malaise]

4. Great idea but I hope guaranteeing security for PE Obama

and his family will not be overlooked for any group.
Call me a nervous ninny. No one spends this kind of money without hoping for returns - whatever those are.