Page 198 - James Caan - The Real Deal

The Real Deal

For years I had made donations to charities but had always
found the process unsatisfactory. Subsequently I might have
discovered that the funds had gone elsewhere, or that the charity’s
overheads meant that only a fraction of my money got to the
people who needed it. I’d been invited to countless black-tie events
where I’d felt obliged to bid at charity auctions for things I didn’t
want, and I’d realised that I wasn’t interested in that kind of
giving: from now on, if I was going to give to charity I was also
going to get involved.
I got on my car phone and called Jonathan Wright.
‘Jon, there’s a woman on the radio trying to raise £75,000 to
keep Barts hospital open. She needs the money today and we’re
going to get it for her.’
‘How are we going to do that?’
‘Not sure. Just off the top of my head, how about we don’t work
today; we just get on the phones and get donations from clients
and candidates?’
‘You’re crazy, James.’
‘Have you got any better suggestions?’
‘I suppose your idea could work.’
‘Tell you what, Jon. Why don’t you call up the radio station and
tell them what we’re going to do and get their support.’
About fifteen minutes later I was still stuck in traffic and still
listening to the radio when Jonathan was introduced. He had only
called up to speak to a researcher but had been put through on air!
By the time I got into the office, the place was in a state of
pandemonium. Every member of staff was on the phone talking to
their clients and their candidates asking for donations to save
Barts. We then went back through every candidate we’d placed in
the past year and every client we’d recruited for and told them
about the campaign and asked for a contribution.
‘Hi, I’m calling from Alexander Mann. We’ve dedicated the
whole day to save Barts from closing. The A&E unit is so

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