The Philoctetes Center for the Multidisciplinary Study of the Imagination, the charming little Upper East Side institution that hosted the panel discussion with Bernie Madoff that I moderated (normally their events are more interesting, like this Saturday’s show-and-tell with Bela Fleck), videotaped it, and put the video online so all the cable networks could get seemingly endless mileage out of it, sent out an e-mail to everybody on its mailing list Thursday:
Regrettably, the foundation that funds all activities at the Philoctetes Center held large investments with Madoff, and the Center’s capital and income source have literally vanished overnight. …
In order to continue, even at a temporarily reduced level of activity, we urgently need an infusion of funds. For this reason, we are appealing to all of you who have been friends of the Center and have partaken of our activities to contribute as much as you are able.
I’m gonna give them something. I think CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News really ought to consider contributions as well.