Philanthropist Joan Kroc Leaves NPR $200 Million Gift

NPR ^ | 11-06-03 | NPR

[garyb]

Nov. 6, 2003 -- NPR will benefit from a bequest of more than $200 million from the estate of philanthropist Joan B. Kroc, NPR President Kevin Klose announced Thursday.

"Joan Kroc believed deeply in the power of public radio to serve the communities of America," Klose said. "She made this extraordinary gift from her steadfast conviction that NPR and our member stations provide a vital connection to millions of listeners."

Most of the money -- described by NPR as "the largest monetary gift ever received by an American cultural institution" -- will go toward the NPR Endowment Fund for Excellence, created in 1993 to provide support for NPR activities independent of other revenue sources.

The precise amount of the gift will depend on the final value of the Kroc estate. John A. Herrmann Jr., chairman of the NPR foundation, said the gift will increase the size of the endowment fund beyond $225 million.

Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald's Corp. founder Ray A. Kroc, died Oct. 12 of cancer. She was 75. In recent years she had made substantial gifts to organizations promoting world peace.

Member station KPBS in San Diego -- near the Kroc family home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. -- will receive a $5 million contribution from the Kroc estate.

[My2Cents]

Money down a 'rat hole.

[aynrandfreak]

Good. Now they shouldn't need any government funding for a while.

[My2Cents]

Half of that money was gained through Bill Clinton's Big Mac obession.

[dirtboy]

Most of the money -- described by NPR as "the largest monetary gift ever received by an American cultural institution" -- will go toward the NPR Endowment Fund for Excellence

Does this mean that NPR won't get to use any of it?

[dirtboy]

Half of that money was gained through Bill Clinton's Big Mac obession.

I guess it won't bother the liberals that this is blubber money - dirty cash earned by fattening up America's kids against their will.

[No Blue States]

wow, what a waste.

[Harley]

Are you kidding? They'll blow all that McDonalds' money on hookers and booze.

[tractorman]

What a Kroc indeed!

[My2Cents]

ROFL....Better for NPR to rot their own morals, than try to rot the morals of the nation. :-)

[kidd]

I can't wait until NPR tries to provide an opinion on the benefits of a food "fat tax". Or when they whine about the spread of American icons into other "pure" cultures.

[diamondjoe]

Did you see the ScrappleFace headline earlier today?

"PETA calls on NPR to reject McDonald's blood money."

Heh.

[My2Cents]

the NPR Endowment Fund for Excellence

It means that most of the money will go toward the Excellence In Broadcasting network.

[Yaelle]

"PETA calls on NPR to reject McDonald's blood money."

Sorry in advance but

Fat chance.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Of the all the good things in the world $200 million can do, she chooses to waste it on nothing of value. I've always respected one's right to leave their estate to whomever they want, but this is painful to watch.

[JLS]

This is why wealth does not last many generations in a family. The idiots give the money to people who work against how they accumulated the wealth.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Shouldn't this be covered under the campaign finance laws- after all, it is a pretty direct subsidy to the Democrat Party.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Pravda PING!

[WorkingClassFilth]

Junk food for the arteries, junk politics for the mind. Makes sense to me and, besides, this kind of coin from the private sector only helps the case to...

[steve8714]

That isn't blowing it...taht would have been called "investment" during the last administration.