I can't remember the last time I was this angry...

[Arrian]

Disgusting? Horrible?

There is a lot of hyberbole in this thread.

-Arrian

[SpencerH]

Would anyone rather have these companies spend their money on other things? No one complains about university or hospital buildings named after congressmen who obtain pork barrel funding or wealthy individuals assuaging their guilt over how they obtained their money.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I fail to see why corporate philanthropy should not be considered a good thing. Especially in light of the all to often repeated mantra that corporations only are concerned about profits.

Now on the other hand if you feel squeamish about the corporations image and how that reflects on the instituion thats one thing, but corporate sponsorship in of itself is not a bad thing.

This reminds me of the article I read the other day inthe Wall St. Journal that concerned my old stomping grounds. It was about Joe Capano Jr. (brother and accomplice {who turned states evidence} of Tom Capano who murdered of Ann Marie Fahey) donating $2 million to his local catholic schools. Seems the church had to go through some ethical wrangling before they would agree to put Cappanos name on the new buildings. Seems one of the schools told him flat out NO at which point he said fine all $2 million would go to the other school. The first school promptly rethought their position. As an amusing aside, it was a highlight that this donation prevented Joe Biden from having his name on the buildings.

[Dinner]

Re: Re: I can't remember the last time I was this angry...

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly

"Get this man a polo shirt and a lacrosse stick...STAT!"

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Arrian
Disgusting? Horrible?

There is a lot of hyberbole in this thread.

-Arrian

Bah. Why only take words from my post? Just because it immediately preceded yours? Well, yeah, I probably did lay the negativity on a little thick there. Monkeys.

[Arrian]

Yes, because it was the latest example, not because it was the only example.

I agree, MONKEYS!

-Arrian

[Tuberski]

Huamna hospitals are all over the country. They also provide insurance.

It already happens, Guy.

If a person can donate $50 million and get his name on a building, why can't an insurance company?

ACK!

[Arrian]

Full disclosure: I work for a major insurance company AFAIK, we don't do health ins., so you've nothing to fear.

-Arrian

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by SpencerH
No one complains about university or hospital buildings named after congressmen who obtain pork barrel funding or wealthy individuals assuaging their guilt over how they obtained their money.

I do.

[Lancer]

Just go up there one night and tear 'Nationwide' off the sign.

[Wittlich]

Originally posted by Tuberski
If a person can donate $50 million and get his name on a building, why can't an insurance company?

ACK!

I fully concur with Tuberski. If the hospital - and most importantly, the patients, benifit from the large monetary donation ... who really cares what "name" is listed on the side of the damned building?

This is just the nature of capitalism.

[Straybow]

Columbus Children's sold themselves too cheaply. There's a big difference between naming a building and naming, or rather, re-branding, the whole institution. Heck, I bet $50M couldn't even cover the design and construction costs, much less the big-buck equipment that makes it a hospital.

Some guy's widow donated $10M to the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and wanted the it all named after her hubby. The Dean of Engr calmly said that the donation was only enough to get one department named (she chose the Dept of Civil Engr).

The dean publicized the list of what you get named for a donation. I think the whole College of Engr would go for a cool $100M. That was eight or ten years ago. If that list has risen as fast as tuition it would be $200M by now.