Wealthy self-made Orange Co. California businessman and philanthropist, Donald Bren, has endorsed Mitt Romney. October 30, 2011
Donald Bren, a former marine who started a home building company in 1958 with a $10,000 loan and is now worth $12 billion, has endorsed Mitt Romney. Bren, who is chairman of the Irvine Co., hails from southern California and is widely known for his philanthropy.
Orange Co. Register
Updated Oct 30, 2011
By Jonathan Lansner
Orange County billionaire developer Donald Bren thinks Mitt Romney should be the next president.
Irvine Co. Chairman Bren, in a wide-ranging interview about the stats of the economy, said he thought the former Massachusetts governor would best handle both a difficult economy as well as broader national and global issues.
“He’s the most qualified,” Bren says.
Bren — a longtime Republican supporter listed by Forbes as America’s wealthiest real estate mogul with a $12 billion fortune — donated $2,500 to Romney’s campaign in September, according to federal donation records. …
Bren says he admires Romney’s “business acumen, good judgment and temperament” and his business success with the Bain Co. investment house.
Now, that’s a real Golden State endorsement!
Over the span of three decades, Mr. Bren has donated over 50,000 acres of oak-covered canyons and brushlands in southern CA to be used for public parks, greenspace, and recreational wilderness preserves. His most recent gift of land was completed last summer:
Los Angeles Times
June 30, 2010
By Scott Kraft
A rugged, 20,000-acre parcel of the original Irvine Ranch — a pristine landscape of steep canyons, native grassland and sycamore woodland that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and dozens of rare and endangered species of plants and animals — became public property Tuesday in a historic deal with the developer who has sculpted the look of modern suburbia in Southern California.
The open-space land, a gift from Donald Bren and the Irvine Co., was unanimously accepted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which also approved a long-term plan to manage the natural habitat, designated a National Natural Landmark four years ago. In one swoop, the size of parkland owned by the county grew by more than half.
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(emphasis added )
Of the 50,000 acres permanently preserved in So. California’s Irvine Ranch (which includes Fremont Canyon, pictured above) nearly 40,000 have been designated as the first-ever CA Natural Landmark (CNL). “This designation validates the conservation efforts that will keep this land special for generations to come.” – Donald Bren, Chairman, Irvine Co.
A wonderful endorsement from a very generous man…
Thank you, Mr. Bren!
► Jayde Wyatt
Nice, work, Love the park in Irvine… Many thanks Mr. Bren
Here’s a 1%-er giving back big time to the State of CA. I always wondered why this valuable stretch of prime Irviine, CA real estate wasn’t developed. It’s a gift to the community. Two thoughts: the idea that the 1%-ers of the world are greedy doesn’t fit this man. He’s a prime example of what can be done in America to be a huge business success — starting as a Marine and $10,000.2nd idea: He’s right on in saying that Mitt is the Man to turn things around because of his experience, background, ethics, and timing.
Good to see a prime example of a can-do American guy making it big (on Forbes’ list for real estate). The American Dream is alive and well. We need people like Mitt whom this man supports to prune back the restictive regulations and punitive climate choking American business people.
Romney is a success magnet; have you noticed the shining quality of the accomplishments/resume of the men and women flocking to endorce Mitt. The media can play their broken record of Romney isn’t electrifying while the cash to support Mitt keeps pouring in. Money talks and it is talking for Mitt.
Jayde this Donald is always right!