Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot and chairman of the Marcus Foundation, will be the featured speaker at the Terry Third Thursday breakfast speaker series on Oct. 16 at the Terry Executive Education Center in Buckhead.
The Marcus Foundation is a charity that focuses on Jewish causes, children, medical research, free enterprise and the community.
Terry Third Thursday is a monthly event for the Atlanta business community. Registration for the $30 event is required.
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer. Marcus served as chairman of its board until his retirement in 2002. It revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept.
Encouraged by his mother to “always give back,” Marcus’ contributions are given with the expectation that they will make a significant difference. For instance, the Georgia Aquarium, which was dedicated to the people of Georgia and the associates, customers and shareholders of The Home Depot, is the largest aquarium in the world with over 11 million visitors since its opening. Its construction in downtown Atlanta has not only brought millions of people to the area, it has generated more than $6 billion in construction and development in the area.
In 2009, The Marcus Foundation presented a $20 million gift to Grady Health System to improve emergency care to trauma and acute neurological injury victims throughout Georgia. The Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center at Grady and The Marcus Trauma Center at Grady expand hospital space for trauma and brain injury victims and improve time-dependent therapies for stroke and acute neurological emergencies.
In 2008, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta joined forces with The Marcus Institute, founded in 1991, to create the Marcus Autism Center, which offers expanded services for children with autism. Marcus and The Home Depot broke ground on the Marcus/Home Depot Hospitality House to assist families who travel to Atlanta for medical care.
Marcus considers the founding of the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem among his most important efforts. This non-partisan and non-political think tank deals with the complex issues facing the Israeli democratic society.
Recognizing the urgent need for job creation in the US, Mr. Marcus funded and founded Job Creators Alliance, a group of current and retired CEOs and entrepreneurs who have come together to preserve the free enterprise system for succeeding generations. JCA members are spokespeople for a national marketing campaign to educate Americans on what it takes to make jobs, from a business perspective, the benefits of our free market society and how vital it is for America’s future.
A native of Newark, New Jersey, Marcus received his B.S. degree in Pharmacy from Rutgers University.
Terry Third Thursday series is sponsored by The Bank of North Georgia, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and WABE FM.