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Local Family Boasts Trio Of Big-Bucks Inaugural Donors

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By BILLY HOUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - A Tampa Bay father and his two sons are among the biggest donors nationally to the presidential inauguration committee.

Charles Brink and sons Christopher, 26, also of Tampa, and Bryan, 33, of Land O Lakes, have joined the likes of actors Halle Barry and Sharon Stone and international financier George Soros by each giving the maximum contribution allowed, $50,000.

A database of donors from Florida and across the nation who have contributed to the Obama-appointed committee overseeing the Jan. 20 inauguration festivities can be viewed at http://www.pic2009.org/donors.

Those who give the full $50,000 will be eligible for such perks as access to private inauguration-related lunches and dinners, inaugural balls – and perhaps even a dinner attended by the Obamas.
Why have the Brinks combined to give the committee $150,000?

Charles Brink says they are seeking no favors in return.

Rather, Brink said, he and his sons simply want to help the nation celebrate Obama's election -- and not just the historical aspect of the Illinois senator becoming the nation's first black president.

"It comes after years and years of partisan strife that was really promoted by both the right and the left," he said. "We see Barack as not only a historic figure … but also a centrist. His election will give us (the country) a chance to gravitate back toward the middle."

Brink, who recently sold his stock in Mona Vie, a beverage company he co-founded, for millions of dollars, says his family is happy to find itself in the "financial position to do this."

"We don't seek government contracts, and we're not seeking office," he said. "We are a family without an agenda, other than wanting to give something back, and that includes through political donations, public service and charitable donations."

Christopher Brink has already gotten a share of national attention in recent days for his youthful philanthropic leadership.

He is director of the newly formed Brink Family Foundation, a role that landed him mention in a Barron's magazine story earlier this month detailing some of the charity-related roles being undertaken by Gen-Xers.

Funded with about $5 million from Charles Brink's sale of Mona Vie stock, the foundation was incorporated this year and is being directed toward helping failing schools and improving educational access in Tampa. The money given to the inaugural committee was separate from the foundations, given personally.

Christopher Brink – who has a degree in political science from Florida State -- says he sees Obama's presidency as an opportunity to "change the tenor of politics" from one of shrill claims of either "a vast right wing conspiracy or left wing conspiracy."

His brother, Bryan, could not be reached. He serves as a trustee for the Brink Foundation and also is involved in unrelated family business.

Charles and Christopher Brink say they have met Obama, including at a Miami fundraiser. They were both active this year in political donations, each giving to both the presidential campaigns of Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as several state Democratic Party committees, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Charles Brink said he believes the Obama team has set just the right tone with its approach to raising money for the inauguration.

Unlike previous inaugural committees, Obama's 2009 committee says it does not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, labor unions, current federally-registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents and does not accept individual contributions above $50,000.

Charles Brink said details of which events he and his family will attend in Washington are still to be worked out, but that they are pleased to "have the opportunity to celebrate the work that we were part of in order to get Barack elected."

Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or (202) 662-7673.

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