Timber Mogul Donates $1.4 Million to PETA

Deep-pocketed donors writing big checks to nonprofit organizations is fairly common these days, but every once in awhile, you hear about one that seems pretty uncommon. That's the case with Holland M. Ware.

Ware, a businessman, recently wrote a $1.4 million check to PETA, via his charitable foundation (the aptly-named Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation). What makes this story really interesting is that Ware's business is timber, not exactly the most animal-friendly business out there. And, Ware hails from Georgia, where PETA is — well, let's just say it's not all that popular.

According to PETA's press release, Ware's gift breaks down like this:

• $1 million to raise children's awareness of how circuses take still-nursing baby elephants away from their mothers and "break" them for a lonely life in chains.
• $240,000 for a mobile "Dog Doc" no-cost to low-cost spay and neuter clinic to join PETA's fleet.
• $200,000 for cruelty-case investigations, including rewards to help bring animal abusers to justice.

Ware has a history of big gifts to animal advocacy organizations. In 2008 and 2009, his foundation kicked in $450,000 to the Humane Society of the United States to help its anti-dogfighting campaign. He's also given generously to the Atlanta Humane Society, and his local shelter in LaGrange, Ga.

Beyond the animal world, he also bankrolled the Holland Ware Cancer Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta.

Of course, like most who are successful in business, Ware has a reputation for playing hardball in the boardroom. PETA's press release says, "Holland M. Ware ... applies the same resolve that has made him successful in business to his ardent defense of abused animals." If that's the case, then abused animals have a pretty gutsy fighter on their side.

In 2006, Ware was criticized for taking advantage of a loophole in Georgia law that enabled him to transfer about 67,000 acres of land to his foundation, netting him a $700,000 break on his property taxes. The Georgia General Assembly sealed up that particular loophole the next year, but the law's sponsor exonerated Ware publicly, noting that Ware had acted within the law as it was written.

So, is Ware just doing a little greenwashing — attempting to make his business practices look better in the public eye — by spreading some cash around in a high-profile way? I don't think so; I think he's on the level, and here's why.

First, Ware may not be your average timber mogul. One report notes that he plants ten trees for every one he cuts. Timber is a big industry in Georgia, and that's closer to sustainable tree farming than most timber industrialists get. But more importantly, writing almost a million and a half dollars to PETA, earmarked for circus elephants and companion animals, isn't going to help Ware get any richer. Same with the other donations to other animal and non-animal non-profits, including HSUS at a time when an unfortunately large portion of Georgia's sports fans were siding with Michael Vick. (Remember, Vick was a marquee player for the Atlanta Falcons.)

It's clear that Ware has a long record of doing the right thing by animals, hardball business aside. He deserves a pat on the back for putting his money into protecting animals.

Photo credit: angela n.