Businessman plans to donate $70M to Oral Roberts Univ.

[kurth]

Businessman plans to donate $70M to ORU
By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press Writer

TULSA, Okla. - An Oklahoma City businessman said Tuesday he planned to donate $70 million to debt-ridden Oral Roberts University, days after the school's president stepped down amid accusations that he misspent funds to support a lavish lifestyle.

Mart Green, founder of the Christian office and educational supply store chain Mardel, said he decided to help after watching media reports about the school, which recently revealed it was more than $50 million in debt. He never attended the university and does not know the Roberts family, he said.

"Let's straighten the ship," Green said at a news conference at the university. "Let's get integrity. Let's get trust built back, and the financial issues will go away."

Green said he would immediately give $8 million, to be followed by a review of the university's financial records that could take as long as 90 days. His family must approve the review before giving the remaining $62 million, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071128/ap_on_re_us/oral_roberts_scandal

[Ghost in the Machine]

1. What's that old saying about a fool and his money?

I see a fool and a *whole bunch* of money getting ready to part ways...

The guy should donate a million each to 70 different homeless shelters and/or soup kitchens. He'd sure get a lot better publicity and would help a whole hell of a lot more needy people. Support the needy, *not* the greedy, Mr. Green. You'll be a better person for it.

Just sayin.....

[Nevernose]

2. Because THAT'S a good use of seventy million dollars

Just what the world needs: more superstition.

I don't normally post anti-Christian posts at DU, but something about Oral Roberts University being in financial straits brings that out in me.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. I just sent their Corporate Headquarters an email...

"I just read a story about Mart Green planning to donate $70 million to debt-ridden Oral Roberts University, and I really think this is a bad idea. Why?

For starters, ORU has seen more than its share of greed, corruption & waste. Isn't Oral Roberts the same man who came out on National Television in 1987 and said that "God was going to call him home" if he didn't raise 8 Million Dollars in 90 days? Didn't he and his son claim later that year that Oral Roberts had raised a child from the dead? These people are frauds and snake oil salesmen.

As a Christian Organization, I feel that you would be serving the Lord better if you donated your money to as many homeless shelters, outreach programs and soup kitchens as you could. Imagine the people all over the United States that you could help by doing this.

You could give 700 organizations $100,000 each and it would go a whole lot farther towards helping people than it would donating it to ORU. That would help 14 different organizations in EACH STATE in this Country. That's a LOT of needy people getting some help.

Please reconsider your offer, or at least pause for a moment to consider this alternative. It would give you much better publicity and exposure for your organization, although I know that's not your reasons for doing this. If you're truely a Christian Organization, this should be more appealing to you and your beliefs.

Help the NEEDY, not the GREEDY!

PEACE!

xxxxxx xxxxxxx
Ten Mile, Tennessee"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call or send them an email:

7727 SW 44th Street | Oklahoma City , OK 73179
Phone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

Send email to Mardel Corporate office.
http://www.mardel.com/site1/company/contactus.cfm?addr=corporate&addressee=900

[KatyaR]

4. This family is also tied to Hobby Lobby, in case you're interested.

His father, David, is the founder.

[SoCalDem]

5. Building that Stairway to Heaven?.. Pssst.. It's an escalator, and

It's a DOWN escalator