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| YOUR TOWN: Caroline | Culpeper | King George | Fredericksburg | Orange | Spotsylvania | Stafford | Westmoreland | |
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Slavery museum to keep tobacco money
Slavery Museum rejects call to return tobacco moneyDate published: 3/20/2007 BY EDIE GROSS An anti-smoking group has called on the U.S. National Slavery Museum to return a donation it received earlier this month from tobacco giant Philip Morris USA. The museum, slated to open in Fredericksburg next year, has no plans to refund the $200,000, said spokesman Matt Langan. Matthew L. Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sent a letter to museum Executive Director Vonita Foster last week. "According to your Web site, the museum 'will become a strong component in the educational development of our nation's youth,'" he wrote. "This is indeed a laudable goal, but by taking receipt of this donation, the museum is joining forces with a company that continues to target children for another form of slavery, addiction to tobacco." Myers went on to say that accepting "tainted money" could discourage other companies from donating to the museum, which is in the midst of a $165 million capital campaign. Langan said museum officials hope Philip Morris' donation will actually boost corporate support for the museum by setting a good example. Though Philip Morris wasn't founded until 1902, the tobacco industry is considered one that benefited from slavery early on. The museum has called on those industries for financial support. "We're happy that Philip Morris was progressive enough and stepped up to the plate and donated," Langan said. "We hope other corporations will follow suit." The Richmond-based company, the nation's leading manufacturer of cigarettes, routinely awards grants like this to nonprofit and educational institutions. In 2005, its 165 recipients included the Children's Museum of Richmond, Jamestown 2007 Inc., the Commonwealth Girl Scout Council of Virginia and departments at Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond and Virginia Tech. Edie Gross: 540/374-5428Email: egross@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 3/20/2007
Look who's talking
(posted by
looped_ca
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Maybe the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids would like to return the funing it has gotten from the foundation created by the Pharmaceutical companies ($70,480,297.00 1996 - 2001)? Since that would be a conflict of interest, considering they are pushing pharma aids to quit smoking so heavily the majority of the time. Yet tell people that a simple smoking ban will make people quit; although only when the votes are getting counted for smoking ban laws.
millard,
(posted by
dsellers
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
slavery of thinking
(posted by
millard
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
As much as the anti-smoking zealots want to control others,you'd think they'd understand that slavery IS the control of others.Since their biggest goal is the control of others,I'd think an anti-slavery museum would be the last place that should pay any attention to them.The money has been contributed for a historical museum that many people want to see completed to illuminate a portion of our histroy.Why would these group-think-control-of-others-advocates not want to see the museum open?
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