Miami banker who gave away $60 million gets front-row seat to Obama speech

[babylonsister]

Miami banker who gave away $60 million gets front-row seat to Obama speech

BY MARTHA BRANNIGAN AND LESLEY CLARK
[e-mail]


WASHINGTON -- Leonard Abess Jr., the Miami banker who quietly gave $60 million of his own money to his loyal staff of 399 current and 72 former workers, plans this evening to be watching President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress from first lady Michelle Obama's box.

Geneva Lawson, a 51-year employee at City National Bank of Florida, will also join the first lady for the speech. Lawson, the safe-deposit custodian at the Miami Beach branch, is among the 471 staffers and former staffers who were stunned by their boss' largess.

Abess, 60, gave the hefty bonus last November after selling a majority stake in City National Bancshares and made no effort to attract public attention to his generosity. His story became public this month after he mentioned it offhandedly in an interview with The Miami Herald.

''Those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity -- I always thought some day I'm going to surprise them,'' he said. ``I sure as heck don't need {the money}.''

more...

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/918800.html

[vaberella]

1. This is the kind of guy Markopolis said we needed

during his meeting with Congress' Financial committee during his whistleblower account over Maddoff. He spoke about an organization that is above the SEC and FED and who overseas, organizes, and taps into when Whistleblowers bring their cases on what is going on in the banking world and Wall street. The good guys who made their money, have nothing to lose and have no friends to protect and just want to see better business and banking.

[Patsy Stone]

2. The family has a long history of philanthropy here in Miami Beach

You go, Leonard! :toast:

[ClarkUSA]

3. He's the anti-Madoff.

[EraOfResponsibility]

4. kick and rec for the generous

[RepublicanElephant]

5. there aren't enough rich people...

like this.
:applause:

[babylonsister]

6. Key words being 'like this'. Rich people are out there-rich, selfish ones. nt

[nichomachus]

7. Faux News Headline

"Obama pulls a Blagojevich. Trades seat at address for $60 million donation."

[babylonsister]

8. Holy crap! How dishonest is that?! I know I shouldn't be surprised,

but I am.

[nichomachus]

9. Sorry -- it was a joke -- I should have labeled it as such

I thought it would be apparent, but then I realized that you can't make fun of Faux, because they are such a joke.

[babylonsister]

10. Hahaha! I swear, I thought you were serious. nt

[Cha]

11. That was pretty cool and I hadn't

heard of him before. It was like..this is how it's done, you greedmongers.