Arthur Guinness Day
So Guinness is now 250 years old.
Visiting the St James’ Gate brewery in Dublin a few years ago showed what an impact Arthur Guinness and the company had on the local environment. With the brewery came a church, private healthcare, pensions and support for the whole family – not just the workforce. Much of Dublin was revitalised by the industry.
As the Guinness website says…
A BORN PHILANTHROPIST
A truly remarkable beer wasn’t Arthur Guinness’s only legacy. From the outset, this enlightened entrepreneur was committed to improving the lives of people in the Dublin community.
The Guinness Company was one of the first employers in Ireland to provide pensions and healthcare for his workers. Arthur Guinness and his descendents created community parks and recreation areas in Dublin. As their successors, we’ve picked up the mantle and continued the good work, with charitable initiatives around the globe. [more]
So tonight I will raise a toast to Sir Arthur, thankful for the beer and someone who saw that a company could achieve much more than monetary profit.
Interestingly, you can read about Sir Arthur Guinness in Wikipedia or through a timeline.
