Man Gifts Inauguration To Disadvantaged

(AP)  At the JW Marriott Hotel, $1 million will buy you 300 hotel rooms, $200,000 worth of food and private access to a tented, heated balcony overlooking the parade route of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

Earl W. Stafford is buying it all - and giving it away to strangers.

Stafford, a Virginia businessman, plans to invite disadvantaged people, wounded soldiers and others to the prime location on Pennsylvania Avenue. He's calling it the "People's Inaugural Project," inviting those who would never otherwise have a chance to wear tuxedos or satin dresses to the president's swearing-in.

"We believe it is important to include those who are less fortunate because like Barack Obama, we too believe in the American dream," Stafford said Thursday.

Stafford bought the package a week before the election, said Erick Speight, the hotel's senior sales executive. Several corporations expressed interest, but Stafford was quick to turn in his deposit.

"My initial reaction was probably shock," Speight said. "Listening to Mr. Stafford and what he wanted to do seemed surreal; that he was going to purchase the package and venue for such a selfless act was really mind-blowing."

Stafford, the founder of Universal Systems & Technology Inc. in Centreville, Va., paid $1 million for the hotel package, but is working to raise more money for an inaugural ball for 1,000 people, plus a youth ball.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Guests found by nonprofits and social service groups will also get gowns and tuxedos, and grooming from hairstylists and makeup artists. There will be a prayer breakfast and luncheon the day before the inauguration, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Stafford (left) said his Christian faith motivated him to take on the project.

Lavern Chatman, president of the Northern Virginia Urban League, is helping organize the ball. Though it's a pricey event for those facing economic hardship, she said the benefits are worthwhile.

"These are distressed economic times so you don't want to be wasteful," she said. "But how do you give people hope? How do you make people a part of something? This is an investment and one that will be in people's souls and hearts. So I don't see it as a one-time thing; I see it as a lifetime experience."

And if Obama were to show up? Says Stafford, "That certainly would be icing on the cake."

[kate1149]

The people on this site are disgusting and negative. If you are all so concerned about wasted spending maybe you should look at Sarah Palin''s wardrobe, hair stylist and makeup artist or the 10 billion we spend in Iraq every month. Republicans are hypocrites and crooks - Bush and Hank Paulson got congress to give them 700 billion to help the economy and what has the Republican administration done with it? Help their cronies in banking, insurance and wall street, and nothing for people losing their homes or trying to get credit for their small business or car purchases. Republicans are the ones who owe something to the disadvantaged - why should Obama not have the traditional celebration and show of respect that our Country affords to all incoming Presidents? If our Country wants to save money we need to cut the salaries of wall street execs and bankers who have stolen billions from pension funds of American workers. Republicans are devils - just look at the Nixon tapes that just came out. Nixon talked about respect for the Presidency in public, while planning to fire bomb the Brookings Institute and the Washington Post while he was in the privacy of the oval office. God only knows what Karl Rove, Rumsfeld, *** Cheney and Bush cooked up behind closed doors while they were in the oval office. Thank God Obama was elected and God Bless everyone involved in helping this Nation celebrate the death of evil in the White House and the birth of our "better angels".

[barbaram99]

With the state of the this nation being what it is,can''t the affairs be simple in all things. They don''t need the best of everything that money can buy. I know we will have a new president. Can''t things be done in a manner where it is done with less money for everything. Is it done for show? I have never understood why they need the costly meals,clothes,etc when we must make do with what we have. It takes money to live yes. I plan to watch it on TV. I hope they will think that having the best is not needed. I am an American that is glad we will have a new president and Osbama must ''memer who voted for him and ''member his roots. It is time for him to set an example in these hard times. A plain suit and dress for this . This is history. I hope the Obama Family don''t forget who they are and the lessons they were raised and the values. I voted for him as we need a simple man and someone that comes from a poor background. We need that.

[cheteunice]

BarbaraM99, The sad thing is that so much more could have been done with the money like health care for some of them--or jobs!

[cheteunice]

Too bad he couldn''t do something useful with the money like create some jobs for the disadvantaged or provide health care for them.

Too much money is being wasted on the inauguration as it is!

[barbaram99]

This is not an english class. Frankly to tell others we should not post due to our poor grammar is rude . Aa am American I have the right to my say as does every one. I do the best I can. I am glad this gent is doing this. Yes. It is true there are folks that are poorly educated and there are those of the poor that give that can''t afford to. When a person with money helps and in this case wants the poor to be there..This is history. Like it or not WE will have a black presidebt. I am trhilled and I am a white blind person. Yep I voted for him. Thabk God.

[tahsbee]

Mr. Stafford is being criticized for doing something that he feels is needed to give something to help others, who might not ever be invited to an event of this magnitude, yet you don''t criticize Mr. & Mrs. Obama for even holding inaugural balls in such economic times. why haven''t the Obama''s told their inaugural ball committee to offer free tickets and invitations to people such as the down-trodden, possibly some of these people helped him get elected.

[centerfall94]

Man Gifts Inauguration To Disadvantaged
Va. Businessman Buys Access to Obama Festivities For Hundreds Of Poor, Wounded Vets

Nice gift, right on!

[edintex]

I wonder if this guys wealth will be re-distributed next year or will he get a new "special pass" since he is so "dis-advantaged".

[hissteps4u]

The Poor the hungry the downtrodden will always be with us. This is a selfless act and one which should be Honored. While some may see it as a waste of precious money those who are crying about it as a waste likely have never given a dime to help someone else but sure want to force their ideals on others to their shame.

Get a Grip

Reach in your pocket and without looking grab a bill or two and give it to a good person or agency doing good work.

I dont help out Bums on the street Begging but do not mind helping firms which are helping others..

[edintex]

Unitech is a certified "Small Disadvantaged Business". Unitech is certified as a MBE/DBE in State of Maryland.
Gee, he doesn''t sound "disadvantaged" to me. It sounds like this guy really needs more special consideration during the "fair" bidding process on the government contracts his business has.