Andrew Lloyd Webber

Source: NY Times 6/30 "Lloyd Webber's Benevolent Period B27 Weekend Arts Section

FM-FM Comment:
Andrew Lloyd Webber joins Warren Buffet and Bill Gates in this week's high rollers charity news. Webber the composer of the musicals "Evita," "Cats," and "Phantom of the Opera is offering a Picassso for auction at Christies in Novemeber. He bought "Angel Fernandez de Soto, a portrait of Picasso's friend painted in 1903 for 29.1 million 11 years ago and expects to see $40 to $60 million at auction. He plans to donate the proceeds towards the training and education of young performers.
Millions of dollars seems to be denominations we must get used to hearing and reading about. Million dollar homes once a very newsworthy item are now just real estate. Salaries of CEO's, prizes in contests, settlements in courts for damages that used to be in the tens of thousands are now millions. And yet, the rest of us muddle along watching the middle class shrink as the rich folks get richer and become millionaires. The poor, of course are forever hoping to win a million dollar lottery. This is not to suggest that Lloyd, Warren and Bill are not noble fellows. They truly are and we can be proud of their "give back" world view. They tell me that my gifts are no less welcome to causes I help. It's just the idea that millions of dollars don't seem to be creating a healthy and peaceful planet. Could it be that money is not a substitute for human kindness, compassion, caring, respect, peace and love? We non millionaires surely have an unlimited abundance we can share with people to make them feel like a million dollars.