Thursday, December 02, 2004

Creative Loafing Atlanta | NEWS & VIEWS | VENTURE PHILANTHROPIST

Creative Loafing Atlanta | NEWS & VIEWS | VENTURE PHILANTHROPIST: "Venture philanthropist
Even a mean boy can learn to give
BY DOUG MONROE
My old friend Tom Glenn walked onstage in front of 900 people at the Georgia World Congress Center last week, and I couldn't help but marvel at how strange it felt to see someone I knew as a goofy kid grow up to amount to something.
I joined in the standing ovations as he took the stage and as he left. He looked good for a middle-aged man; he's stayed slim and kept most of his hair, although it might not be as red as it used to be.
He was introduced by William Clarkson, president of the Westminster Schools, who said many people had written letters about Tom and that he would like to read one in particular. It started off like this: 'To Whom It May Concern: Tom Glenn was a mean boy. ...'
The letter was so preposterous that it drew a good laugh. Clarkson stopped reading it and went on to say some wonderful things about Tom, who was being honored as Philanthropist of the Year by the Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
I had to smile as Clarkson started reading the letter about Tom being mean. "

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