Billionaire John D. MacArthur insisted on flying coach, wore shabby clothes, swore profusely, pocketed half-smoked cigarettes and often stayed in a modest apartment over his Northwest Side insurance office.

 

When he died in 1978, he left the bulk of his estate to a charity in his and his second wife's names. Since then, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has distributed millions to Third World countries and funded affordable housing and community development in the United States. Yet the nation's 10th-largest charity, with nearly $4 billion in assets, spends lavishly on salaries and perks for its own employees and board members -- supporting an opulent style that even MacArthur didn't allow himself.

 

As his friend Paul Harvey says, now you know, the rest, of thye story.

 

Interesting guy. A few great quotes. From today's Sun-Times

Yet the nation's 10th-largest charity, with nearly $4 billion in assets, spends lavishly on salaries and perks for its own employees and board members -- supporting an opulent style that even MacArthur didn't allow himself.

 

:puke

As his friend Paul Harvey says, now you know, the rest, of thye story.

 

Interesting guy. A few great quotes. From today's Sun-Times

Sadly this is all too common for many "charitable" organizations. If the public knew the percentages of monies that actually got to the people there were trying to help they would :puke . This kind of stuff is the exact reason why I don't give to national charities, and instead support much smaller, local, and effecient organizations.