AMEX & NTHP: $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SEATTLE HISTORIC PLACES

SEATTLE – Mar. 4, 2010 – American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that the Seattle-Puget Sound area has been chosen for the community-based Partners in Preservation program, which provides restoration grants for local historic places. American Express is committing $1 million in preservation grants to the Seattle-Puget Sound area and is encouraging local residents and people across the country to participate by voting for their favorite historic place from a diverse slate of 25 sites. The Partners in Preservation program launches in Seattle on April 14 with the unveiling of the 25 historic sites competing for funding dollars. Voting begins that day at their website.  "There are many sites around the Puget Sound that link us to our state’s fascinating history,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “This is an amazing opportunity for Washingtonians to vote to preserve and protect those sites with $1 million in private grants.” “The people of King County treasure our built heritage - from homes, to barns, to churches and neighborhood commercial buildings. But funding for restoration projects is always in short supply,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are grateful for the opportunity this program provides to rescue and restore some of our historic legacy.” “Seattle has seven historic neighborhoods and many more historic landmarks because we understand the value of our past,” said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. “American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have presented us with an opportunity that I hope the entire community will take part in.” Seattle is the fifth region to host the Partners in Preservation program and receive funding from American Express. The program previously made grants for preservation projects in the San Francisco Bay area, Chicagoland, New Orleans and Greater Boston. “We could not have chosen a better place than Seattle to launch the Partners in Preservation initiative,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. “The Seattle-Puget Sound area has an exciting opportunity to rally support for the community’s most cherished landmarks. We encourage everyone in Seattle, and across the country, to vote for their favorite historic place.” “After years of working with the preservation community in Seattle, I can attest to the strong dedication to protecting the region’s heritage,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The Seattle area is also known for its innovative approach to sustainability and with historic preservation being inherently green it’s the perfect place for Partners in Preservation. Once the 25 places are revealed on April 14, the public will be invited to vote online for its favorite historic places at www.PartnersinPreservation.com through May 12. The winner of the popular vote is guaranteed funding. Additional grants will be awarded on June 15 to a number of the other sites after review by American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an advisory committee composed of Seattle-Puget Sound civic and preservation leaders.  In total, $1 million in preservation grants will be awarded.    In 2006, American Express, partnering with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, pledged $5.5 million over a five-year period toward preserving historic places throughout the United States.  American Express has already allocated more than $3.4 million in preservation grants, which has allowed recipients to make significant progress in achieving their preservation goals.  American Express has also given $1.1 million to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support its work helping people save the places that matter to them all across the country. Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also seeks to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic sites at the heart of their communities.   For more information, visit here.

About American Express

American Express Company is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850. Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express’ involvement in the community, reflecting its recognition of the contribution of sites and monuments to a sense of national and local identity and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighborhoods. As early as 1983, American Express launched a cause-related marketing effort that raised $1.7 million for the preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. From 1996 to 2005, American Express contributed more than $10 million to help preserve 126 historic sites in 62 countries from the World Monuments Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. In June 2006, the company announced the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as its partner in the U.S. and the World Monuments Fund as its partner internationally. About the National Trust for Historic Preservation  The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices—including the Western Office in San Francisco—, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.