The lineup of sponsors both confirms certain stereotypes about the right-leaning think tank and challenges others. The energy sector donated $110,000 to the event, the same amount given by conservative foundations (three of which are associated with the billionaires Charles and David Koch). But the biggest single donor is Google, which gave $50,000, and Facebook kicked in $25,000.
Lawson Bader, CEI's new president, said the list shows his group has "a pretty diverse group of supporters." The fact that fossil fuel firms -- and a number of rail companies that transport coal and oil -- rank as generous donors makes sense, Bader said, because CEI has "been working on energy and environmental issues longer than other" Washington groups.
At the same time, CEI ranks as a strong defender of privacy and civil liberty. "We are very committed to the idea of free enterprise and individual liberty," he said. "CEI does see itself as more libertarian than conservative."
The dinner's keynote speaker is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), whose political stock is particularly high at the moment. "I have no doubt that having Rand Paul as the keynote speaker probably helped drive some of the increased interest in the dinner," Bader observed. "It’s hard to test that theory."
Another reason for the impressive turnout may be Bader's own sales skills: he managed to convince both his mother Jeannie and his brother Cole to buy tickets to the event, at $250 each. When asked whether he thought his mother should have made a bigger donation, Bader replied, "No comment."
Want to know who shelled out the most to support CEI's annual fete? Read the gritty details, below, with donors listed according to sector.
Energy
Murray Energy Corporation $45,000
Marathon Petroleum $25,000
Devon Energy $15,000
Phillips 66 $10,000
American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity $5,000
American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers $5,000
Emerson Electric $5,000
Transport
Association of American Railroads $5,000
BNSF Railway $5,000
Canadian National Railway $5,000
CSX Corporation $5,000
Norfolk Southern $5,000
Union Pacific Corporation $5,000
Auto Industry
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. $15,000
Ford Motor Company $5,000
Volkswagen Group of America $5,000
Alcohol/Tobacco/Beverage
Altria Corporate Services $10,000
American Beverage Association $5,000
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States $5,000
Pepsico, Inc. $5,000
Foundations/Advocacy Groups
JP Humphreys Foundation $40,000
Claws Foundation $25,000
Koch Companies Public Sector $15,000
Charles Koch Foundation $10,000
Dunn’s Foundation $10,000
Americans for Prosperity $5,000
The Beach Foundation $5,000
Communications/Entertainment
Comcast-NBC Universal $10,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Association $10,000
News Corporation $10,000
Verizon Communications $7,500
The American Conservative $5,000
Motion Picture Association of America $5,000
White House Writers Group $5,000
High-Tech
Google $50,000
Facebook $25,000
Consumer Electronics Association $10,000
GTECH $5,000
Microsoft Corporation $5,000
Pharmaceuticals/Health/Biotech
PhRMA $25,000
Glaxo-SmithKline $15,000
American Optometric Association $10,000
Generic Pharmaceutical Association $10,000
Biotechnology Industry Organization $10,000
Chemical/Agriculture/Business
Monsanto $10,000Syngenta $10,000FMC Corporation $5,000
U.S. Chamber of Commerce $5,000
Construction/Real Estate
Miller & Long D.C., Inc. $5,000
Old Boston Restorations $5,000
Financial
MasterCard $25,000
Cash America $10,000
Credit Union National Association $25,000
National Association of Credit Service Organizations $7,500
American Bankers Association $5,000
Law Firms/Lobby/Consulting Firms
Bracewell & Giuliani $7,500
Baker & Hostetler LLP $7,500
DCI Group $5,000
Dezenhall Resources $5,000
Wiley Rein LLP $5,000
Individuals
Ambassador C. Boyden Gray $25,000
Stanford Rothschild $25,000
Stephen Modzelewski $25,000
Fred Young $15,000
Jean Claude Gruffat $10,000
Robert Luddy $10,000
Jack France $7,500
Lester Weindling $5,000
Arcadio Casillas $5,000
James Curley $5,000
Forrest G. Hoglund $5,000
Angelo Puglisi $5,000
