My inaugural effort as a contributing columnist for CTNewsJunkie.com, Christine Stuart's excellent online news source for ... what else? Connecticut News.
This piece focuses on the fundraising disaster afflicting UConn, where a major donor wants his $3-million gift back. Why? I guess because his feelings were hurt. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this story. Stay tuned.
N.J. Gov. Christie, Newark Mayor Booker, appear on Oprah to announce Facebook's $100 million donation
On multiple levels, I am fascinated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million gift to the Newark, N.J., school system:
The size of Zuckerberg's generosity is the equal of Walter Annenberg's 1993 gift to the Peddie School, which at that time was the largest donation ever to a independent secondary school.
The structuring of the gift is smart. It's a challenge grant to encourage others of means to step up and make leadership gifts.
It's engendered lots of bipartisan support, with both Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic Newark Mayor Cory Booker coming on board to publicize the gift. I really like both of these men — and I tend to hate politicians. Consistent with the subtitle of this blog, the imprimatur of Booker and Christie is "red meat for mushy moderates."
The timing of the gift in advance of an unflattering film about the young billionaire does raise questions.
But I'm also amazed by what I don't know. Where is the plan for how this money is going to be spent? In the coverage I have read and seen so far, there has been no mention of a course of action, beyond the setting up of a foundation that will "fund exciting new programs." Does anyone else think that's kind of strange?
