Trail Blazers and Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN's charitable efforts within the arts were profiled by NEWSWEEK's Blake Gopnik, who wrote Allen "spends a fair part of his $15 billion fortune on cultural goods -- both as treats for himself and for others." Allen, who is a minority owner with the MLS Sounders, "has started to circulate his treasures to the public." Americans for the Arts (AFA) Monday honored Allen "with its philanthropy prize" at the National Arts Awards gala in N.Y. The Chronicle of Philanthropy last year named Allen the "nation's most generous living donor." Allen in '10 "pledged to give away at least half" of his fortune "after a nudge" from Microsoft Founder and friend BILL GATES. Most of the money "is likely to go to his many science causes." But if "even a sliver of his pledge ends up spent on the arts, AFA will feel its award was well given." Arts centers across the Northwest are "crowded with plaques thanking the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and more will no doubt have to be carved." Curator TOM VENDITTI, who helps Allen tend to his art collection, said that "more than 300 Allen works have gone out so far, to 47 different venues, and that the pace of this lending is building." Allen's art is "fair game for future giving, especially since he has never married or had kids." Allen, who in '09 was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, said, "With the health issues I've had, I've had to think about it maybe more than some people that are my age." The disease is currently in remission, and when asked how his health is now, Allen said, "Fine, fine." But Gopnik notes the cancer or its treatment "has clearly taken a toll." One hour's conversation "seems to exhaust him, and he leaves the room walking like a much older man" (NEWSWEEK, 10/15 issue).
