Black Man hosts Inaugural Party for Poor, Disadvantaged and Veterans
|
Posted By: Christopher Donshale Sims on December 09, 2008 I found this information about Earl Stafford, a Black business man that will host an inaugural party for the disadvantaged: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As Washington gears up for January's presidential inauguration with high-priced tickets to fancy affairs, one businessman is making sure that some of the less fortunate will have a chance to share in the festivities. Earl Stafford is a Virginia businessman helping the disadvantaged see the inauguration. Virginia businessman Earl Stafford has spent $1 million to give hundreds of poverty-stricken and terminally ill Americans, along with wounded men and women in uniform, an inauguration experience that won't cost them anything. The zero-dollar price tag is even more shocking, considering that tickets to the inaugural events are going for hundreds of dollars, the city's remaining hotel rooms are edging into four-figure territory, and even basements and couches miles from the National Mall are going for a premium on Craigslist. Tickets for the inauguration are distributed through members of Congress, and just 240,000 seats are available for the swearing-in ceremony. The tickets are supposed to be free, but with demand outpacing supply, some people have been trying to scalp tickets for thousands of dollars. Stafford's event is one of the splashiest inauguration packages out there. It includes high-end hotel rooms and luxury suites, food and drinks, a heated viewing spot right above the parade route, even gowns and tuxedos to wear to celebratory balls and a beautician to help attendees get ready. Hours after the election, Stafford, a 60-year-old businessman and son of a Baptist minister, invested in what the JW Marriott billed as its $1 million "build-your-own-ball" inaugural hotel package. His family's nonprofit foundation, the Stafford Foundation, is footing the bill for what it is calling the People's Inaugural Project, but it is also hoping to get money from sponsors. Stafford said Thursday that he hopes the balcony terrace is filled "with those who are disadvantaged, those who are distressed, mingling with those who aren't so. And we hope to see on their faces a sense of excitement." "I was inspired to do this by the Lord. ... It's not about us but about us helping other people," he said. At least third of the tickets to the event will go toward people who are needy or underprivileged, and the rest of those participating could be people from sponsoring foundations, companies or volunteers. Everything, he said, will be taken care of: transportation, evening gowns and tuxedos for the ball. He hopes that providing a front row seat to history will inspire those invited to do good things in their communities. Stafford said he began thinking about the project in March. He voted for Barack Obama, and records show he contributed $4,600 to the Democrat's campaign, according to the Washington Post. Stafford, a retired Air Force officer, noted that he does not agree with all of Obama's positions. But, he told the paper, he decided the inauguration would be "a transition in history, if you will ... and everyone should be included." If you enjoyed this article, Join BlackInAmerica.com today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Christopher Donshale Sims
Dir. of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, Joseph Priestley District Rust College class of 1998 Member Since September 2008 |
Comments
 |
Isn't that wonderful? I missed my chance to get in on the lottery ticket in New York..89 people won!! but I may still go as a volunteer.
Saturday, December 20th 2008 at 11:10AM |
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
 |
Here's An Interesting Thought Here’s An Interesting Thought
Junious Ricardo Stanton
Here’s an interesting thought, what if the Iran War, was actually a vehi ...more
Junious Stanton • 16 Views • March 20th, 2026 |
 |
HOW CLYBURN ON SMALLL BUSINESS ENTRPENEUR INCUBATOR CTRS, FLOTUS MAKES HISTORY, KING CHARLESS III COMMONWEALTHFor Immediate Release From Kingdom-Levine-Oliver Publisher, Inc.!
1) CONGRESSMAN JAMES CLYBURN – CHIEF OF GULLAH-GEECHEE NATION NEWS: “Small Business
Entrepreneur Incubator ...more
agnes levine • 193 Views • March 17th, 2026 |
 |
Alabama State University to Host Open House for Montgomery Interpretive CenterAlabama State University, through its National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will host an Open House for the Montgom ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 286 Views • March 17th, 2026 |
 |
HOW COLLEGE PROMISE INTRODUCES LEARNING COMMUNITY, HELP TO THRIVE DURING UNSURE FEDERAL AID, COLLEGE PLAYBOOK.For Immediate Release From College Promise!
What’s New at College Promise
Introducing the College Promise Learning Community (CPLC)
With support from The Kresge Foundation https://kresge.or ...more
agnes levine • 466 Views • March 14th, 2026 |
 |
HOW ODEP SUPPORTS GENERATION Z WORKER'S MENTAL HEALTH, NATIONAL APPRENTICE WEEK (NAW) APRIL 26 - MAY 2, 2026!For Immediate Release From U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy!
Many of today’s younger workers—Gen Zs born between 1997 and 2012—grew up more comfortable talking ab ...more
agnes levine • 583 Views • March 13th, 2026 |
Popular Blogs
 |
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,925,726 Views • January 27th, 2009 |
 |
VISINE ALERT!!!Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug.
When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 118,712 Views • May 23rd, 2009 |
 |
Walk with me ''SCHOLARSHIP'' by DAVID JOHNSON STUDY of religion at the highest levelWELCOME to BLACK HISTORY by DAVID JOHNSON and friends !!
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT Christians Muslims Buddha and any other RELIGION...! history note !
1400's or700 AD
what was the religi ...more
DAVID JOHNSON • 106,003 Views • October 26th, 2010 |
 |
The Surprise WeddingOn June 7, 2013, Ryan Leak proposed to his girlfriend. Her dream was to get engaged and married on the same day, and so later on that night... He had planned her surprise dream wedding.
We have al ...more
How May I Help You NC • 104,442 Views • October 1st, 2017 |
 |
Famous Quotes Rotating Header Image Mind your own Business Quotes LMAOOUT OF ALL THE THINGS TO DO HERE ON BIA
WHY BE A SIDELINE HATTER ? THEN BECAUSE YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH YOU WANT TO RUN AND CALL MAMA ! BOOOOOO HOOOOOOO THIS IS FOR YOU !!!!
Thank you for your ...more
DAVID JOHNSON • 85,558 Views • November 3rd, 2010 |
