$1 Million 'People's Inauguration Ball' for the Disadvantaged

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed)
Dec 8th 2008 at 7:02PM

When the JW Marriott in Washington D.C. offered a 'build-your-own-inaugural-ball' for $1 million, Earl W. Stafford jumped at the chance to host a cross-section of our country's disadvantaged during Barack Obama's inauguration. The Marriott's package includes 300 rooms, four suites, $200,000 worth of food and drink, and a view overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue's parade route. Stafford, a Virginia business man, wants to 'bless those who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity' including the terminally ill, wounded veterans, and both socially and economically distressed individuals. Funded through his family's non-profit, The Stafford Foundation, the festivities are planned for Jan. 18-20 with a breakfast, luncheon, three-night's-lodging, and two-balls to boot.

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, inauguration package, InaugurationPackage, JW Marriott, JwMarriott, obama inauguration, ObamaInauguration, peoples inauguration, PeoplesInauguration