If you had 10 million to donate to Tulsa...

[mrburns918]

and you could only pick three charities, fund drives, etc. etc. What three would you pick? Why? How would you divide the funds?

1. Circle Cinema - Because I love film. I love that I saw my first "R" and "X" rated movie at the Circle. They get 5 million to finish the construction and use whatever is left over to bring more films to Tulsa. I would only ask in return that they have an Akira Kurosawa film festival. And, I get a free (large)Mr. Pibb for the rest of my life when I visit.

2. Greenwood Cultural Center - A great place that could be even more especially in the area of America's classical music better known as Jazz. North Tulsa raised this white boy right and I can't forget where I came from. Greenwood is an important part of Tulsa's history and because of that, they get 3 million dollars.

3. United Way. Just kidding.

3. Bell's - If the Bell family would promise to use my remaining 2 million dollars to bring Bell's back and not give it to the John Birch Society I would help back them. The only stipulation would be that they put Bell's in downtown Tulsa by the new ballpark. I think this would be a great thing for the city. Don't think it would work? See Denver, CO. It would be a great thing.

[zstyles]

I really can't think of anything worth donating 10 million to right now...weird!

[cannon_fodder]

1) Entrepreneurial fund.
Make loans to growing Tulsa companies and/or lure new companies to Tulsa with loans.  Mostly small loans ($250K) for Tulsans to start their own businesses and mostly to companies geared to bring money IN to Tulsa.  That is to say, companies that make products or sell services outside the metro area and bring revenue IN.

That wouldn't preclude one or two larger loans to lure small or mid-sized start-ups to Tulsa.  Much like Portland did to our small tech company.  

Nor would it preclude smaller loans for people to start developments in underdeveloped parts of town - ie. small neighborhood grocers in North Tulsa.  

LOANS.  These would be on favorable terms but would be paid back.  Thus the fund would be revolving.

I would not fund nor lure new businesses in Tulsa to compete directly with old businesses in Tulsa.

2) Hand's on Science Museum

Often called a Children's Science Museum, but not exactly.  All this science related that can be played with, felt, seen, touched or otherwise aid in the understanding of and increase the desire of people to learn about science.  Albuquerque has a great one, as does San Francisco and many other towns.

I would not call it a "Children's" museum because if done right the adults want to go as much as the kids.  The one in Albuquerque has an over 16 night that is popular with young adults as well as teenagers.

Probably located downtown.

3) The University of Tulsa

For a community outreach program.  I haven't given it much thought, but SOMETHING to tie the University more closely with the community as a whole.  

Provide package tickets to one high school football/basketball team per week to go to TU athletic events.

Merit/need based scholarship fund just for kids from +100 miles of the campus.

Some kind of involvement with TPS to encourage kids to go to college OR pick a trade or occupation (college is not always the right or best choice).  

Sponsor Physics Olympics for area high schools.  Kids have to build toothpick bridges, save an egg from dropping... things like that.  A competition that subversively makes the kids learn or at least think about some physics.

Probably some other extra curricular type activities that would encourage learning.

Admittedly not well thought out, but the general idea would be to 1) increase TU's profile and reputation in the community and 2) encourage kids to care about their education (kids are stupid, you don't realize until WAY later how good you had it in high school and what choices you SHOULD have made).
- - -

Distribution?  Not sure.  Probably:

$5mil to the entrepreneurial fund - needs a lot of capital to get started.  Will have an economic positive impact which can benefit many other things.

$3mil to the science museum.

$2mil to the TU project - using faculty and students it wouldn't be that expensive AND the University would likely match (would be a $250K yearly budget if endowed with $4mil.  A full time coordinator plus a budget).

[Hometown]

Not for Profit Contemporary Art Center.  Then I would appoint myself Chairman of the Board and Director.

[sauerkraut]

I'd like to spend some of that building a system of jogging trails in Tulsa like what Omaha has a complete network, and spend some for other good causes[]

[sgrizzle]

1. Utilize Bells to build a park/boardwalk area in the East End as focal point for development in that area. Rides are interspersed through the area and you pay per ride or get a ride pass. No admission. If East end doesn't work, then West bank of the arkansas.

2. Tulsa Children's Museum. I still think the abundant life building would be perfect. If not, something else historic like the rose bowl.

3. Goddess of Oil. But only if it gets built BIG. Like, Driller Big.

[Gold]

Endowment for TU basketball coach.

Bring Nelson's back downtown.

DVIS.

[TheArtist]

An interactive "Science of The Arts" museum in the Brady Arts district.

It would be a science and art museum focusing on the science and history of art. For example, the glassblowing section would have exhibits on the history of glass, how its made the chemistry, materials science etc, examples of glassblowing and glass art throughout history and you could take classes and try your hand at making your own glass art. It would be open to other artists to use as a studio.

The painting section could go into chemistry, history, etc. and of course have examples of painting throughout history from cave art, exhibits showing Michaelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, to contemporary. There would be studios that artists could use and classes. etc.

There could be a metal arts section, ceramics section, mosaics, stone sculpture, etc.

Each section would be in a large open space with the museum and educational part right there mixed in with the artists working and people taking classes and hands on activities.

Learning, history, creativity, science, art, hands on activities, gallery, museum, classes, studios... all melded into one wonderful experience.

Top that! []

[RecycleMichael]

A million each to:

New Baseball Stadium. I want it to be as nice inside and out as the new arena. I plan to spend a lot of time there and want it to be the best minor league park in America.

Up with Trees. My wife works there and it really does great work throughout our community. We need to be planting trees in every yard, every year.

Tulsa Children's Museum. We have taken the family to children's museums from coast to coast. I also relly like the people now involved trying to bring it here.

Tulsa Parks Department. When a park works in a neighborhood, everything in the neighborhood works. This is where we become neighbors.

Tulsa Youth Council. Tell them they can spend the money on anything high school kids think is cool. Anything. I think we will all be surprised at what they will come up with.

Another Golden Driller. A new design like William's Goddess of Oil...once we have two giant statues maybe we can have more. I think it would be so cool to be known as the city with the tall staues.

Recycling programs for every school. We need to be doing it right and providing bins, dumpsters or trailers would make it happen.

Solar panels for the IPE (Quik-Trip) center. If there was ever a perfectly designed building to install solar panels. it is this one. It could generate enough power to run most of the needs of the entire EXPO Square.

Chess tables for downtown parks. I have seen these set up in other cities and lots of people hang out and play chess. I have seen matches between all sexes, ages and races. What a cool way to connect with each other.  

A bus from the airport and downtown. I can't beleve we don't have this. It would take a while to get it established, but it works in almost every other city I travel to.

[carltonplace]

1. Purchase the MidContinent cement company at 21st and Jackson to spur west bank development.

2. Build more apartments in downtown, but facing the street.

3. The Artist's "Cathedral Square" idea.

4. I need more than $10 mil

5. East End Development with a grocery store and maybe a multi-use theater.

[carltonplace]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

A million each to:


Another Golden Driller. A new design like William's Goddess of Oil...once we have two giant statues maybe we can have more. I think it would be so cool to be known as the city with the tall staues.

If you could get the two "doing it" the rest of the stautes would be free.

[dbacks fan]

This is what we have and it is for kids as well as those of us older kids[]. They also have an exhibit hall for touring exhibits like Titanic, 007 James bond, The Body Human.

Arizona Science Center

A few years ago my wifes company had their winter event here when they had the Titanc exhibit.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

This is what we have and it is for kids as well as those of us older kids[]. They also have an exhibit hall for touring exhibits like Titanic, 007 James bond, The Body Human.

Arizona Science Center

A few years ago my wifes company had their winter event here when they had the Titanc exhibit.

The others,

2. Tulsa Childrens Medical Center

3. Animal Rescue Foundations and shelters,

[Wrinkle]

Buy advertising for a $1B tax increase.

[OurTulsa]

The Visual Art's Center...

Support bringing the State's idea for a school for the performing arts (I think that's the name) to Tulsa and influence it's location in the Brady attached or nearby the Visual Art's Center.

Support the Children's Museum effort here as well...would love to get the Brady some real hard core arts critical mass...so I'd put the Children's Museum near the Visual Arts Center/State school for the arts (I too like the idea of calling and theming it more along the lines of a Discovery/Science center).

Maybe I'd set up an endowment fund for some of those organizations.  $10m should surely provide for annual operational costs for at least the visual arts center.

My next choice for support would be the biking (bicycle) community and the distribution of free bikes throughout the City and public outreach, bike infrastructure...

Last...a great public fountain that you can actually walk up to and through and sit around.  I love the interactive wall fountain in Millenium Park in Chicago.