God Bless this American

In January Washington D.C. is going to be filled to the brim with people hoping to get a glimpse of President-Elect Obama during the inauguration. Tickets are difficult to get and are incredibly high-priced. Packages have gone for hundreds of dollars, and space to stay is even more difficult to find. Hotels have booked, and people have begun to look for rooms to rent.

However one businessman, Earl Stafford of Virginia, is making sure that some of the less fortunate people of the nation will be able to share in the historical event. Stafford has spent $1 million dollars to give hundreds of impoverished people, terminally ill individuals, and wounded men and women in uniform a chance to attend the inauguration for a cost of absolutely nothing. 

Tickets are handed out by congress and there are only 240,00 seats available. Yet Stafford has put together what is being called a "build-your-own-ball" package. HIs deal includes a high-end hotel room or luxury suite, food and drinks, a heated viewing spot above the parade route, and gowns and tuxedos to wear to the celebratory ball. He has even thrown in a beautician to help attendees get ready. Stafford invested his $1 million dollars into the JW Marriots "build-your-own-ball" package just after the election. 

The bill is being paid for by this family's nonprofit organization, the Stafford foundation, however the organization is also open to money from sponsors. Stafford was quoted as saying he hopes the balconies are filled "with those who are disadvantaged, those who are distressed, mingling with who aren't so. And we hope to see on their faces a sense of excitement." So far at least 2/3rd of the tickets will go to underprivileged people while the rest will be handed out to contributing sponsors, companies or volunteers.