Talk:Robert G. Wilmers

Proposed revision to introduction: Robert G. Wilmers page

The first sentence of his Wikipedia page currently describes the late Robert G. Wilmers as simply a “billionaire banker,” a term that focuses solely on his net worth. It does not accurately capture his legacy as a philanthropist and civic leader or the impact he had on Buffalo. I think the following revision more accurately reflects the life he led and his many achievements.

CURRENT INTRO: Robert George "Bob" Wilmers (April 20, 1934 – December 16, 2017) was an American billionaire banker.[2][3] He was the chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of M&T Bank from 1983 until his death in 2017.[2][3][4]

SUGGESTED REVISION to INTRO: Robert George “Bob” Wilmers (April 20, 1934-December 16, 2017) was an American philanthropist, civic leader and the Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank for 34 years. (1) His commitment to community-focused banking and ardent support of educational and cultural institutions has been integral in the revitalization of Buffalo, N.Y. (2)

1)     http://buffalonews.com/2017/12/18/editorial-wilmers-was-an-exceptional-banker-and-a-model-for-civic-leadership/

2) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/robert-g-wilmers-bank-chief-and-buffalo-philanthropist-dies-at-83.html

Phhosmer (talk) 16:21, 9 February 2018 (UTC)

DECLINED The lead sentence/paragraph summarises the article. "American billionaire banker" seems reasonable. The article makes no mention of philanthropy, or anything that might constitute civic leadership. Edwardx (talk) 16:32, 9 February 2018 (UTC)

Thank you for your response. Using the following sources, I suggest a new section titled “Philanthropy” between “Career” and “Personal Life and Death” to include the following additions to the article, with verbatim quotes providing evidence of Mr. Wilmers’ philanthropy and civic leadership:

1) http://buffalonews.com/2017/12/18/editorial-wilmers-was-an-exceptional-banker-and-a-model-for-civic-leadership/ 2) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/robert-g-wilmers-bank-chief-and-buffalo-philanthropist-dies-at-83.html

Philanthropy

Wilmers was committed to education and the arts throughout his professional and personal life. According to The Buffalo News, “Wilmers spent almost four decades turning M&T Bank into a national powerhouse while investing, corporately and personally, in his adopted city of Buffalo.” (1) “His success at M&T paved the way for his influence in a community that he worked, heart and soul, to improve. His influence was felt around the area, especially in education and the arts.” (1)

In an obituary, the New York Times wrote: “At his death, Mr. Wilmers was overseeing fund-raising for an expansion of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, the sixth-oldest art museum in the United States. He was also awaiting the opening of a new prekindergarten center in Buffalo, part of a network of charter schools he had built through M&T to try to improve education for the city’s poorest residents.” (2)

And to reflect these additions, the following revision to the first sentence is still proposed: CURRENT INTRO: Robert George "Bob" Wilmers (April 20, 1934 – December 16, 2017) was an American billionaire banker.[2][3] He was the chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of M&T Bank from 1983 until his death in 2017.[2][3][4]

SUGGESTED REVISION to INTRO:

Robert George “Bob” Wilmers (April 20, 1934-December 16, 2017) was an American philanthropist, civic leader and the Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank for 34 years.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Phhosmer (talk) 00:05, 14 February 2018 (UTC)

• REPLY The phrasing needs to be more neutral - please read WP:NPOV. Those quotes are far too long. You need to make more effort to put it into your own words. What you have found does not merit including "philanthropist, civic leader" in the lead para. It really isn't much in the way of either. Also do you have any conflict of interest here? Edwardx (talk) 00:21, 14 February 2018 (UTC)

REPLY Thank you for getting back to me. I appreciate this opportunity to continue the dialogue. To answer your question, yes, I do have a conflict. I am an employee of M&T Bank, which is why I am staying within the rules of the Wikipedia community and not posting directly on the page.

As a Wikipedia editor who has worked on the page previously, you have done a good job of chronicling Mr. Wilmers’ life. Thank you. His page is equally important to us because we know firsthand that it’s often the first place others turn to for insight into Mr. Wilmers and his illustrious career. I would not be doing my job if I didn't prevail upon you to include Mr. Wilmers’ philanthropic and civic pursuits. These good works are a significant part of a man’s legacy that has been widely documented. Here is some of that evidence:

1. The New York Times headline of Mr. Wilmers’ obituary reads: “Robert G. Wilmers, Bank Chief and Buffalo Philanthropist, Dies at 83.” The fact that the US national paper of record, also based in New York, cites Mr. Wilmers’ philanthropy so prominently is evidence in itself of his philanthropy. The New York Times then goes further to document this fact by citing two notable sources: New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and U.S. Senator from New York Charles Schumer, who are quoted in the article as saying in a statement, “There have been very few men who have done as much for Buffalo since its founding hundreds of years ago, as Bob Wilmers.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/robert-g-wilmers-bank-chief-and-buffalo-philanthropist-dies-at-83.html

2. In 2016, on the occasion of M&T’s 160th anniversary, the Buffalo News reported: “More than a century and a half later, few businesses match its devotion to the improvement of Buffalo and all of Western New York. Both the bank and its chairman, Robert G. Wilmers, have established a record of philanthropy that can make area residents proud of their successful, homegrown bank.’ http://buffalonews.com/2016/09/01/mt-bank-wilmers-deserve-thanks-for-leadership-in-improving-life-in-wny/

                       The piece then goes on to provide specifics:  

· The bank and Wilmers helped to rescue Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the jewel of Main Street that once seemed headed for the wrecking ball. Wilmers posted a $1 million challenge grant to restore the lighted marquee, which had been dark for half a century.

· The bank has also had prominent roles in the restoration of the Darwin Martin House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; the improvement of the Buffalo Zoo and other philanthropic ventures. It supports the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood program and its employees are prominent volunteers at schools and important community institutions. · In 2015, alone, M&T donated more than $5.5 million in nine Western New York counties. That’s a record that builds community trust and helps to secure its business.

3. Mr. Wilmers fostered M&T Bank’s culture of philanthropy and community involvement. Since 1986, M&T has given $358 million to not-for-profit groups in communities it serves. In 2016, M&T gave $28 million in grants to more than 3,600 not-for-profit organizations to support and revitalize communities, help charitable organizations and grow local economies: https://asset.mtb.com/documents/html/community-involvement-report/index.html#p=1

4. In addition, he made numerous personal donations to charitable and community organizations, such as a $4 million donation to help save the Buffalo Zoo: http://buffalonews.com/2006/10/08/at-last-a-rain-forest-even-for-a-cash-strapped-county-zoo-exhibit-is-a-wise-investment/

5.  Mr Wilmers and his wife were named Philanthropists of the Year by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County: “The Wilmerses were cited for their corporate and personal donations of millions of dollars to local charities and schools, especially the Darwin Martin House, the Buffalo Zoo and Buffalo's P.S. 68 Westminster Community School. “https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2004/05/24/daily8.html

6. To honor his legacy after his death last year, M&T gave $44 million to the M&T Charitable Foundation, the highest amount in the bank’s history: http://buffalonews.com/2018/01/18/mt-citing-wilmers-gives-44-million-to-charitable-foundation/

7. In an article about his memorial service, a Buffalo News reporter wrote: “Monday's tribute allowed friends, colleagues and admirers to reflect on his wide-reaching impact in Buffalo, through his leadership of the bank but also his philanthropy and commitment to education. http://buffalonews.com/2018/01/22/wilmers-saluted-for-impact-in-western-new-york-in-event-drawing-some-1400/

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Phhosmer (talk) 21:48, 28 February 2018 (UTC)

• You should focus just on his personal philanthropy, not that of the company he worked for, and draft something suitable to be added to a "Philanthropy" section, in your own words, from a neutral point of view, and cited with reliable sources. Please bear in mind that you are being paid to do this; I am an unpaid volunteer. Edwardx (talk) 15:51, 1 March 2018 (UTC)

REPLYThank you for your response and guidance. At your suggestion, I have researched and drafted the following proposed revisions/additions to the page. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

First Sentence

Robert George “Bob” Wilmers (April 20, 1934-December 16, 2017) was an American banker, longtime Chairman and CEO of M&T Bank, and a philanthropist and civic leader known for supporting educational and cultural institutions as well as the revitalization of Buffalo, N.Y.

Philanthropy Section

Wilmers was recognized as a philanthropist for his civic and community contributions in Western New York State and particularly Buffalo. [1]

He played prominent roles in saving Buffalo’s Shea’s Performing Arts Center; restoring the Darwin Martin House, a National Historic Landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; and improving the Buffalo Zoo. [2]

He was the impetus behind the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood program, which focuses on using education to revitalize urban areas in Buffalo. [2]

At the time of his death, Mr. Wilmers was overseeing fund-raising for an expansion of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, the sixth-oldest art museum in the United States. [1]

He was also awaiting the opening of a new pre-kindergarten center in Buffalo, part of a network of charter schools he had helped to develop in hope of improving education for the city’s poorest residents. [1]

For his work, Mr. Wilmers and his wife, Elisabeth, were named Philanthropists of the Year by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. [3]

In 2017, Wilmers was awarded ‘officer’ status in France’s Légion d’Honneur merit system, originally devised by Napoleon Bonaparte as a way of rewarding civilians as well as soldiers. The award recognized his charitable work that spans both France and the United States, including the non-profit Partner University Fund (PUF) that is a collaboration between the French government, American private donors and the French-American Cultural Exchange foundation. [4]

[1] Robert G. Wilmers, Bank Chief and Buffalo Philanthropist, Dies at 83

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/robert-g-wilmers-bank-chief-and-buffalo-philanthropist-dies-at-83.html

[2] M&T Bank, Wilmers deserve thanks for leadership in improving life in WNY

http://buffalonews.com/2016/09/01/mt-bank-wilmers-deserve-thanks-for-leadership-in-improving-life-in-wny/

[3] Wilmers couple wins philanthropy award

https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2004/05/24/daily8.html [4] Haut-Bailly owner makes ‘officer’ grade on French honours list

http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/haut-bailly-owner-makes-officer-grade-french-honours-list-378224/

Phhosmer (talk) 15:56, 13 March 2018 (UTC)

I'd like to check in on the proposed changes I posted on March 13, which include the new section Edwardx and I discussed. Are there any thoughts or feedback? Thanks. Phhosmer (talk) 19:36, 22 March 2018 (UTC)