If you speak with anyone whose family member was treated for cancer at the University of Pennsylvania or the parent of a child who was treated at Cook's Medical Center, you will definitely get a different perspective. How about the children whose parents fought cancer and they received counseling from Wonders and Worries or all of the Katrina survivors that received financial aid? How about the thousands of families over the last 15 years that have benefited from the support of Livestrong? They don't care about the "lie," they are living the truth.
In business terms, it's time for "Philanthropist Lance" to go through a restructure. A Chapter 11 restructure is not the end for a company; it is a new beginning. It only works, however, if underlying assets have true value.
Conversely, the media pundits will tell you that "Athlete Lance" is finished. For "Athlete Lance," they will say it's not restructure time, but liquidation time; a Chapter 7 in business terms. In Chapter 7, you shut it down, unwind it, sell off the assets, go into the abyss and quietly into the night.
The parents, the survivors, the fighters, the families and the medical professionals don't care about "Athlete Lance." They believe in "Philanthropist Lance" and the value of the underlying assets. They are living proof of the good he has done and the value he has brought and can continue to bring. They will help him restructure. The brand may be damaged now, but that does not mean it can't be salvaged or saved. Remember Chrysler, Macy's and most of the airlines? Some of the largest brands in the world have been through the restructure process. These companies shed the baggage, recapitalized, kept the good assets and went on to fight another day. It's time for Lance to regroup with the people that will reinvest and support him so he can emerge from the bankruptcy.
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