Showing posts with label High Point Community Foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label High Point Community Foundation. Show all posts

Monday, September 18, 2017

Nido Qubein; How much economic growth could Greensboro lose if High Point builds a baseball ballpark area like Greensboro's?




"Nido Qubein  is an American Lebanese-Jordanian businessman, motivational speaker, and President of High Point University since 2005.

 He received his Associate's Degree in Business from Mount Olive College...

 He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Human Relations from High Point University in 1970, and his Master of Science in Business Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

...in 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters in Humanity degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Should we really be call Nido "Dr."?

He has served as Chairman of the Great Harvest Bread Company since 2001 on the Board of Directors of BB&T since 1990 and La-Z-Boy Corporation since 2006.

How much money does HPU owe BB&T?

Since 2005 when Qubein became the seventh president of High Point University, he has nearly tripled the number of faculty, tripled traditional undergraduate enrollment, and added four academic schools.

If the stock market falls 50%, 
how many of HPU's students will be able to continue their education
at one of the priciest schools in the country?

Qubein is notable for being the third or fourth highest paid college president in the United States, earning $2.9 million a year in 2013.

Why take so much from so well off few Nido?

What is the average debt load of a HPU graduate compared to their income
five years after attending HPU?

 ...Qubein has written 11 books, including titles like "How To Communicate Like A Pro"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nido_Qubein

Nido is an amazing communicator

Maybe a little too amazing


With his contacts and fundraising experience, Dr. Qubein led HPU in raising $300 million in gifts and pledges without a formal campaign.

All three of his alma maters bestowed upon him honorary doctorates.

Nido gave himself a doctorate...

His business ventures included helping to grow a bank in 1986, and today he serves on the board and has chaired the executive committee of BB&T, a Fortune 500 financial corporation with $185 billion in assets and 35,000 employees.

He is the recipient of the highest awards given for professional speakers including the Cavett (known as the Oscar of professional speaking), the Speakers Hall of Fame, and Sales and Marketing International’s Ambassador of Free Enterprise.

Nido is a very good salesman,
not unlike Bernie Maddoff

Toastmasters International named him the Top Business and Commerce Speaker...


http://www.highpoint.edu/president/
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"Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration have spent the past three years going after for-profit colleges in an effort to combat fraud and misuse of federal student aid monies. Some policymakers were careful to cast the onslaught as an attempt to root out bad actors.

...for-profits will skimp on education and spend their resources on the things that drive their stock price—marketing and recruiting. In order to avoid wasting federal student aid dollars on such useless expenses, Democrats have argued that the government should regulate access to student aid on the basis of an institution’s tax status. Non-profit? No problem. For-profit? Let me see your hands.

...In 2005, High Point hired Nido Qubein, a motivational speaker, to serve as its president. Qubein proceeded to invest nearly $700 million in the campus, constructing shiny new buildings, high-end dining halls, and a ridiculous array of amenities that would make the manager at a Four Seasons blush. As Businessweek points out, this is a very expensive way to grow the brand. Moody’s downgraded their bonds to junk status after the campus borrowed $165 million in just a few short years.

...In 2010, according to High Point’s annual IRS filing, [Qubein] received a deferred compensation package that boosted his pay to $1.38 million. IRS filings show the university pays almost $1 million annually to his family’s public-relations and consulting business, now headed by Qubein’s 28-year-old daughter, Deena Qubein Samuel.

...when a nonprofit university feeds at the federal trough to the tune of $700 million in fountains, marble, and a certified “Director of WOW,” policymakers don’t bat an eye because they don’t pay out dividends to shareholders?"

http://www.aei.org/publication/a-college-both-left-and-right-should-be-angry-about/
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"The top-paid private college president in North Carolina isn’t at Duke, or Wake Forest, or Davidson. It’s High Point University's president. He received a total compensation package of nearly $3 million in 2013. That’s the third largest private school pay package in the country, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.  

High Point University President Nido Qubein is a motivational speaker and a businessman. He was a university trustee until the board decided to hire him."

http://wfae.org/post/high-point-universitys-president-3rd-highest-paid-country

"Notable campaign contributors to Guilford County’s state legislators who voted in favor of HB2;

Contributors to State Senator Phil Berger

Jim Melvin, former mayor of Greensboro, Bryan Foundation
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors
Roy Carroll, developer, The Carroll Companies
Vanessa Carroll, wife of developer Roy Carroll
Lloyd Yates, CEO Duke Energy

Contributors to State Senator John Faircloth

Nido Qubein, President High Point University
Roy Carroll, developer, The Carroll Companies
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
BJ Barnes, Guilford County Sheriff

Contributors to State Senator Trudy Wade

Lawrence Czarda, President, Greensboro College
Janis Zink, Vice Chancellor, UNCG
Zack Matheny, President, Downtown Greensboro Incorporated
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors
Roy Carroll, Carroll Companies
Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Tony Wilkins, Greensboro City Council (through his campaign committee)

Contributors to State House Representative John Hardister

Robbie Perkins, former mayor of Greensboro
Marty Kotis, developer, Kotis Properties, UNC Board of Governors

https://greensboro101.com/movers-and-shakers-share-responsibility-for-tournament-pull-outs/
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"...It seems like Qubein isn’t having any trouble finding private money for amenities, a hotel, apartments, a team, and a stadium name.  If that’s the case, is it possible that maybe there’s private money out there that could be found for the ballpark itself?  Rather than asking taxpayers to be on the hook for $30 million for a new stadium, perhaps High Point should slow down and explore the idea with private investors.

...if they’re willing to put up millions for a hotel, but not to build a stadium, then perhaps that should serve as a warning to the city of High Point.  If there really isn’t sufficient private interest in building this ballpark, then maybe it’s not such a wise investment after all.  Either way, the city should be very wary of spending $30 million on the project."

https://www.johnlocke.org/update/is-a-30-million-ballpark-a-good-investment-for-high-point-taxpayers/

Monday, July 18, 2016

Richard (Skip) Moore's misleading statements; "8 Things to Know About "Say Yes To Education"

Hey George,

I haven’t had a chance to write about Say Yes yet really, 
but these are good questions. 

I saved them in my email news folder for when I can cover it. 

Sorry for the delayed response,

Eric Ginsburg
Triad City Beat associate editor,
forever ago, along with the News and Record

..."Say Yes to Education"..., a program that would pay the college tuition for all Guilford County School graduates and possibly charter schools down the road. Free money? Sounds almost too good to be true. So, WFMY News 2 took your questions to a local planning committee member, Richard (Skip) Moore, and got answers.

1) What is "Say Yes to Education"?

"Say Yes" is a non-profit based in New York. It all began when a businessman promised 112 students in Philadelphia that he would pay for their college tuition if they graduated from high school. Then the program expanded and it first started in Syracuse followed by Buffalo. Guilford County is the number one candidate for the third location.

Not true, meaning Richard (Skip) Moore misled Guilford County

Why did the Philadelphia Chapter close in 2000?

Why did the Cambridge, MA Chapter close in 2008?

What happened to the New York, NY Chapter which opened in 2004?

2) How would it work in Guilford County?

The community must raise the money to pay for the students' college tuition. Guilford County's ultimate goal is $70 million and the fundraising will have to go on forever to keep the program alive.

"A lot of the money that we're getting will be endowed," Moore said. "It will be invested and we'll only take out four or five percent a year. And that's what we'll spend and the rest of it will stay invested so, what we want to do is build up a reserve.

from: Carr, Nora  @gcsnc.com> to: Geo
date: Wed, Oct 21, 2015 at 7:10 PM
subject: RE: FW: Say Yes to Education information request for Guilford County Schools 
mailed-by: gcsnc.com

I believe the Weaver Foundation provided funding for the delegation to Buffalo. Guilford Education Alliance coordinated the trip.

Guilford Education Alliance, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and the High Point Community Foundation have been involved in developing the partnership and assisting with planning, project coordination and fundraising for this effort.

GCS is part of the partnership but this is not a GCS-only initiative.

There are a number of private individuals and foundations that have contributed to the scholarship endowment fund.

The list of donors has been included is provided below:

Phillips Foundation: $5 million

The Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation: Up to $5 million

Earl and Kitty Congdon family, High Point: $2 million

Anonymous family in High Point: $2 million

VF Corporation: $2 million

United Guaranty Corporation: $1 million

Weaver Foundation: $1.25 million

David R. Hayworth, High Point: $1 million

Rob and Susan Culp family, High Point: $1 million

Anonymous individual in High Point: $1 million

Anonymous couple in area: $1 million

Cone Health Foundation: $1 million

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro: $1 million

Lincoln Financial Foundation: $500,000

Nora K. Carr
Chief of Staff
Guilford County Schools.

3) Will that money really be enough?

The money only pays tuition other scholarships and grants won't cover...

4) Besides covering tuition, what are the other benefits of "Say Yes?"

The program will keep track of student's absences, missed homework assignments and other signs a child is falling behind. Based on what the child is struggling with, they'll get help from services like mental health clinics, tutoring, and after school programs. The "Say Yes" initiative calls those wraparound services.

"So it's just trying to find a kid where he or she is along their academic career and being sure that if there's a red flag, we remove that red flag," Moore said.

5) Who does the program benefit?

...only Guilford County Schools students who attend sixth grade through graduation will get their full tuition covered. The amount you get goes down the later the student enters the district...

"We didn't think it was right that you could just transfer into the Guilford County Schools spring semester of your senior year and your eligible for a full scholarship," Moore said. "That's not the point of the program. It's not a scholarship program, it's a whole preparing and passing through and being ready for post-secondary education."

6) What does it cost me?

All of the fundraising will be private money, unless a public group decides to make a donation. The "Say Yes" program is also working with different agencies to rearrange current resources to support the wraparound services without spending more money. The "Say Yes" foundation based in New York will pay to hire staff to run offices in High Point and Greensboro..."

http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/8-things-to-know-about-say-yes-to-education/223556463
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"from: Richard Moore
to: hartz
cc: Abbey Johnson <ajohnson@guilfordeducationalliance.org>
date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 3:00 PM
subject: Questions about Say Yes

Mr. Hartzman:

your questions were forwarded to me. I can give you some information.

Where will the money be invested, and at what cost?

———— funds will be invested and managed by the two community foundations. Fees will be normal and customary,


The Weaver Foundation's Richard Moore, 
and the High Point and Greensboro's Community Foundation
have yet to disclose what the assets will be charged, 
and in what the money is to be invested, 
and in what the monies are currently invested in now

What will the salaries be of Say Yes Guilford employees?

———— there are twi components to the organization — a 501c3 that will do the fundraising and management. This is a volunteer program thus far except for one administrative assistant. The Say Yes guilford staff is hired by the Say Yes Foundation of New York. I am not sure that their salaries are released but you will have to ask them about that.

What percentage of the total amount will be directly given to students each year?

———— there will be a normal endowment distribution.

Still unknown unknown, 
not cleared up by Skip Moore, an advocate

What are your expected yearly fundraising costs?

———— undetermined

What will the money be invested in?

———— will be managed professionally

Is Say Yes Guilford to be considered a fiduciary?

———— you will have to ask the Say Yes national folks about this. The local organization will be a 501c3

Will the investment manager be considered a fiduciary?

——— investment managers will be professionals who are in this business.
____________________
Richard (Skip) Moore"

Mr. Moore has betrayed our community
by not providing transparency over millions for Guilford County's families

Sunday, July 10, 2016; Oblivious Buffalo News Editorial Board "Say Yes is leading a vital improvement in the number of college-bound students"


Monday, July 11, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-Mails, Part 5


Harriet Tubman On Say Yes To Education


Tuesday, July 5, 2016; Why did the Hartford Chapter of Say Yes close in June 2005?


Thursday, June 30, 2016; Say Yes to Education's amazing, quite unbelievable investment performance; This is a George Weiss special

Thursday, June 30, 2016; John Hammer on new Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras and Say Yes to Education

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; Please ask Greensboro's City Council, Guilford County's Commissioners and School Board a version of the following questions

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; New Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras' = Say Yes to Education, Say Yes Guilford and Say Yes Syracuse = Say Yes now owns Guilford County Schools

Wednesday, June 29, 2016; WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH 2015; "The Say Yes to Education program has closed its Syracuse office"

Thursday, June 30, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-mails: Part 1

Friday, July 1, 2016; Say Yes To Education-- The E-mails: Part 2