Summer camp for the kids at Burlington’s Boys and Girls Club began Monday with a series of speeches delivered by men in suits. The campers plucked clover in Roosevelt Park as the politicians and philanthropists offered inspirational advice.
Arguably the best-dressed and indisputably the oldest of the men in suits was 96-year-old Tony Pomerleau, who was there to dole out something more concrete to the Club: $1 million.
To put that in perspective: According to GuideStar, the Club recorded $1.4 million in revenue in 2012— most of which came from grants and donations. The gift, to be paid in installments over the next decade, is the largest in the club’s history, according to its executive director, Mary Alice MacKenzie.
“If Tony Pomerleau didn’t give one more gift in his life he would go down in history as one of the most generous Vermonters this state has ever seen,” MacKenzie said. “But he hasn’t stopped and we are very very lucky that he has believed that what we are doing with our education program is worthy of a very very big gift from him.”
The contribution will support Early Promise, an academic program to help children go to college, and it will fund individual scholarships for participating students.
Signs of Pomerleau’s largesse are already plastered around the city — his name appears above at the police station, and the YMCA was renamed after him last year, after he gave them $1 million. The Boys and Girls Club is following suit, renaming itself “The Pomerleau Family Boys and Girls Club.”
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, Representative Peter Welch and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger joined Pomerleau and his son, Ernie, and others to mark the occasion. They heaped praise upon Pomerleau and urged the children in the audience to dream big. “You can be anything you want to be,” Leahy said, leaning over the stage to make eye contact with campers sitting in front.
Like the president of the United States, Pomerleau had his own personal umbrella-holder, who stood beside him before the event began. But despite all the attention, the real estate magnate and philanthropist downplayed the event. He used his time at the podium to poke fun at Welch and Leahy, both of whom wore baseball caps for their shade — “I remember a long, long time ago, they both had hair.” (Leahy’s wife, Marcelle, is Pomerleau’s niece.)
And handing over an envelope with first of ten installments to MacKenzie, Pomerleau joked, “Hey Alice, you wanna cash this check right away before it bounces.”
His words of wisdom to the kids? “It’s easy. If you make a little money, you become real popular.”
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For the record, it was 80+ degrees out and the person holding the umbrella over the head of 96 year old Mr. Pomerleau was his daughter. Also, I think the term “plastered” detracts from the good he has done to earn his place on those buildings.
It is especially wonderful for Burlington’s minority and refugee populations to have Mr. Pomerleau’s generous help, but why does his generosity come to a screeching halt when it comes to the future of these same populations in Winooski? Pomerleau & Co. have been the lead proponents for the flawed F-35 basing in VT, which will significantly and disproportionately damage the vulnerable populations of Winooski children, minority and refugees. The most damaging effects will be borne by the least able to protect themselves, especially infants and young children. How about showing the same concern for the future of those children as you do for the B&GC youth? With his money and power, and Pat Leahy for a nephew-in-law, Pomerleau could influence the USAF to rescind the decision in the same way that his group pressured them to inappropriately decide on Burlington in the first place. What do you say, Mr. Pomerleau? How about spreading your caring and concern to ALL of the area’s targeted at-risk populations, instead of being the reason for the demise of those who are unfortunately just in the way of your favored project, the F-35 basing?