Halfway to Heaven

Newsweek ^ | Feb. 27, 2006 issue | Susannah Meadows

[Abathar]

The 5,000-acre tomato field in southwestern Florida sure doesn't look like heaven. Bulldozers scrape the land flat while clusters of Porta Pottis signal an undeniable earthiness. But soon a massive cathedral will rise from this barren spot. Reaching 100 feet in the air behind a 65-foot crucifix, the Oratory will anchor Ave Maria, a whole new town and Roman Catholic university 30 miles east of Naples. Ground was officially broken last week, and the plan is to build 11,000 homes—likely drawing families who already hold the church at the center of their lives.

For Tom Monaghan, the devout Catholic who founded Domino's Pizza and is now bankrolling most of the initial $400 million cost of the project, Ave Maria is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to spreading his own strict interpretation of Catholicism. Though he says nonbelievers are welcome, Monaghan clearly wants the community to embody his conservative values. He controls all the commercial real estate in town (along with his developing partner, Barron Collier Cos.) and is asking pharmacies not to carry contraceptives. If forced to choose between two otherwise comparable drugstores, Barron Collier would favor the one that honored that request, says its president and CEO, Paul Marinelli. Discussing his life as a millionaire Catholic who puts his money where his faith is, Monaghan says: "I believe all of history is just one big battle between good and evil. I don't want to be on the sidelines."

[Abathar]

I give him credit for putting his money where his mouth is. Guess the ACLU doesn't like his views much though...

[MineralMan]

Well, he's putting his money where his faith is. It will be interesting to see how this development works out. A lot of such planned communities don't do as well as expected.

[50sDad]

I'd love to see it work, but "utopian communities" of every strype have a lackluster track history. Still, cheers, bravo and God Bless!

[cinives]

No one's being forced to live there, and there's no law saying you must only patronize the pharmacy in your town.

Only the ACLU and Planned Parenthood would find something they don't like about people, of their own free will, deciding to live in this type of conservative community.

The funny thing is, most communities were probably much like this in the 40s and early 50s - no contraception available in pharmacies (other than condoms, and those only behind the counter), no abortion services, and shops within walking distance.

[cinives]

He has 2 things going for him: location (Florida) and home prices below the average in the area.

I think it's Naples/Ft Myers area that's the fastest growing area in the US over the past few years.

[Redbob]

Glad he's got the courage to put his money behind his beliefs, but it's a shame he's doing it out in an area that ought to be Everglades.

Wait 'til the residents find that the 30 miles into Naples takes them an hour and a half to drive!

[GSlob]

"Guess the ACLU doesn't like his views much though"...
Well, they might have a strong preference for the tomatoes he's displacing - at least the tomatoes are edible, while his view are not.

[GSlob]

view=views

[NativeNewYorker]

I grew up in a Brooklyn neighborhood that was roughly 50/50 Jewish/Catholic. My male friends tended to be Jewish, and my girlfriends were, thinking back on it, evenly divided between the two faiths.

I think the deelopers may be surprised by the number of non-Catholics who would want to live in such a community.

[MineralMan]

"The funny thing is, most communities were probably much like this in the 40s and early 50s - no contraception available in pharmacies (other than condoms, and those only behind the counter), no abortion services, and shops within walking distance.
"

Yup, they were. Of course, the Pill hadn't been invented yet. The pharmacist could, though, give you a diaphragm and spermicidal jelly, along with the condoms (for prevention of disease only)

Those towns had other things, too, like rules that kept grocery stores closed on Sundays. Some didn't allow blacks to own property in the town, either. The town I grew up in only allowed hispanics to live in a certain section of town.

Some good things in those days. Some horrible things.

[cinives]

You are right about that. There's never been a working utopia in real life.

[TonyWojo]

It is not an area that ought to be part of the everglades, it is about 5 miles south of a town called Immokalee, and has been farm land for a very very long time.

[SuziQ]

Ave Maria is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to spreading his own strict interpretation of Catholicism.

No, dear, he's following the Catechism; that's the OFFICIAL interpretation, not his personal opinion.

Our daughter is applying to Ave Maria Univ., and frankly I'd LOVE to live in that new town!! If someone doesn't like what the town offers, they have the freedom NOT to buy property there. There are lots of houses in the area from which they can choose.

[SuziQ]

but it's a shame he's doing it out in an area that ought to be Everglades.

It's not the Everglades; they are a few miles South of the area. This used to be tomato fields.

[SuziQ]

I think the deelopers may be surprised by the number of non-Catholics who would want to live in such a community.

I don't think they'll be surprised at all. The idea of having homes in all price ranges is great because the folks who WORK in the town will be able to buy homes there. There is no requirement that anyone BE Catholic to either work or buy a home in the town.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Well, I wish them good luck. Actually utopian communities have not all failed.
Amana colony in Iowa was religious, and even though it is gone. The name of its appliances are known
The shakers are gone, but the quality of thier workmanship and special designed furniture is still around.
The Amish have been around for 400 years and not going away soon.
I would clump Mormonism into this group and they are growing rapidly.
So a catholic community has a shot and plenty of money behind it.

[STARWISE]

God bless him and love him for this ... it's such an incredible rags to riches journey and such a profound testament to his faith. If I were just starting out, I'd love to be part of this. I'll sure be watching the ACLU scream as he attempts to design what he wants on HIS property. Wonder if they'll drag Kelo into this and try to seize the place he wants to build to honor, horror of horrors, God and traditional values.

I hope he endows a hefty legal fund that will carry his dream forward able to withstand all the challenges it's gonna get.

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[It's me]

He has 2 things going for him: location (Florida) and home prices below the average in the area.

LOCATION !! ?? In hurricaine country and humidity?

I like San Diego better. Home of the new John Paul the Great Catholic University.

I agree on the home prices, though.

[Salvation]

BTTT for Ave Maria University. One of the best in the United States!

[SaltyJoe]

Semper Fi! He was also a US Marine!

http://www.usdreams.com/Monaghan7677.html I Am Focusing On God, Family And Domino's Pizza

Tom Monaghan Founder And CEO

Domino's Pizza, Inc.

Click here to see more information on our new 2006 book Las Vegas Dreams

IT’S BEEN A LONG EXCITING ROAD SINCE THE ORPHANAGE

Only in America could a once poor, yet determined young boy from Ann Arbor, Michigan, combine hard work, unwavering courage, and strong faith to build a multi-billion dollar pizza business from the ground up.

"I believe that everyone on earth has a certain goal/dream in life."

Tom Monaghan’s early childhood was a true test of endurance. His father died on Christmas Eve when he was only four years old. Tom’s mother couldn’t support his brother Jim and himself on her salary of only $27.50 per week so she decided to put the two brothers into a foster home. Tom and his brother Jim bounced around from foster home to orphanage throughout most of their childhood.

The American Dreams Collection

Reading the boyhood story of how Abraham Lincoln, a poor farm boy from Illinois could work hard and become President of the United States inspired Tom to dream big. He would also read the Ward’s and Sear’s catalogues and dream about having not the good, or the better, but the best.

Tom attended the seminary which didn’t work out. He was always a hard worker though. His early jobs included selling newspapers and magazines and setting pins in bowling alleys.

Later, Monaghan joined the Marines with the hope that it would help pay for his future college education. He had early dreams of becoming an architect although they never materialized. Monaghan knew that someday he’d grow up and be everything that he could be. He always seemed to have a lot of confidence in himself.

In 1960, Tom and his brother Jim borrowed $900 to buy a pizzeria named Dominick’s in Ypsilanti, Michigan. A year later, Tom bought out his brother by trading him his Volkswagen Beetle for Jim’s half of the business. Tom’s success certainly did not happen overnight. In his first 13 years in the business, he worked 100 hour work weeks, seven days a week. He only had one vacation, and that was for six days when he got married to his wife Margie.

Monaghan put together a strategy to sell only pizza, to deliver it hot and fresh within 30 minutes and locate near colleges and military bases.

By the late 1970’s, Domino’s was up to over 200 locations. The 1980’s proved to have phenomenal growth. In 1985, sales topped $1 billion and just three years later, sales hit over $2 billion. The number one pizza delivery company in the world closed out the decade with over 5,000 locations.

Monaghan, who once aspired to be an architect, is a great fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, claimed to be the world’s greatest modern day architect.

For Tom, the real substance of life and work is in a constant battle to excel. In his mind, winning in business is nothing unless you do it strictly according to the rules.

In 1983, Monaghan bought the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise. The very next year they became the World Series champions.

Forbes Magazine ranks Monaghan in the top 400 richest American’s and estimates his net worth at $485 million. Today, Domino’s has a network of over 5,300 locations with 115,000 employees and sales of over $2.5 billion.

Questions and Answers:

What are some of the most memorable lessons you learned growing up?

While in an orphanage, I was most encouraged and inspired by Sister Berarda. She was my surrogate mother who was there for me.

What do you attribute building your successful career to most?

I believe that my faith has attributed to my goals in life. I also have five priorities in life and they are: spiritual, social, mental, physical and financial. These priorities have guided me and hopefully will continue to do so.

What does the American Dream mean to you?

I believe everyone on earth has a certain goal/dream in life. I also believe anyone can achieve this if they set their minds to it.

Was there ever a turning point or low point in your life? If so, how did you overcome it?

I was distracted by some of the rewards of success, which was hurting my business. I put all of these distractions aside, and focused solely on Domino’s Pizza. I decided to take a “millionaires vow of poverty.” I am focusing on God, family and Domino’s Pizza.

What advice would you give to someone chasing after their dream?

No mater what an individual decides to become, hard work and determination is very important in today’s competitive world. You may also encounter hardships along the way, but you must not get discouraged and you push on in order to fulfill your goals.

Is there a spiritual dimension to your accomplishments?

Yes, I must say that my faith has kept me going throughout my life...especially during the most challenging times. My faith has been tested many times, yet I believe it has made me a better person.

What lies on the horizon as the American Dream for you?

To see Domino’s Pizza become the number one pizza company in the world.

The future for Tom Monaghan and Domino’s Pizza looks very bright. There is a new logo and a new lighter and brighter look to the stores. They are investing over $150 million on improvements for the customer.

From Buffalo Wings to the new hit Herb Crust Pizza, to testing new desserts and salads, Domino’s still focuses on the most important ingredient – their pizza.

Internationally, there are tremendous growth opportunities going on. Within the last four years, Domino’s has gone from 500 to 1,100 international stores. By the year 2000, they hope to open 4,000 more international locations.

For the self-proclaimed pizza man who claims to have made over one million pizzas, Tom Monaghan and Domino’s Pizza may well be on their way toward the goal of being the number one pizza company in the world.

Resource Information: Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

[cgk]

I wish I liked Domino's Pizza. I'd buy it just to support Monaghan.

[JustPiper]

The Evidence for Heaven

http://shop.wnd.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1809