The grant will be presented to Cornerstones Community Partnerships and Acoma on September 13 at a benefit dinner hosted by the Pueblo to support the restoration of this significant historic site. In attendance will be Cornelia Higginson, vice president of International Philanthropy at American Express, Bonnie Burnham, President of the World Monuments Fund, and other distinguished guests including Acoma Governor Fred S. Vallo, Sr. and James Vaughn of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Dr. W. Richard West, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D. C. will be the keynote speaker.

Since 1999, Cornerstones Community Partnerships and Acoma have worked together to restore important historic structures and to help build capacity among community members to manage their own cultural and historic resources effectively. One of the main features of this ongoing project is the preservation of the magnificent San Esteban del Rey Mission-one of the few Spanish missions to survive the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The mission is also an important repository of original cultural and historical materials from the seventeenth century such as the altar screen, original murals, and the carved vigas and corbels.

This $100,000 grant from American Express will help the Pueblo restore the massive roof system of the complex, including the clerestory window, which has been closed since the early part of the nineteenth century and was designed to shed light on the altar.

"We are grateful to American Express for their generous grant to The Pueblo of Acoma Historic and Cultural Preservation Fund," says Governor Vallo, "The grant to this 100% tribally-managed initiative will help us continue to foster self-sustenance, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and serve as a resource for the Acoma people as we work to uphold our inherent responsibility to prepare a better life for future generations."

American Express is the founding sponsor of WMF's World Monuments Watch program, founded in 1995 to draw attention to and ensure the preservation of imperiled historic, artistic and architectural sites worldwide. American Express's ten-year, $10 million commitment to this program has enabled WMF to leverage millions of dollars of additional funding from local and international governments, global corporations, foundations and individuals, and has encouraged new preservation activism worldwide.

Every other year, the World Monuments Fund invites governments and non-governmental organizations around the world to nominate endangered sites for inclusion on the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. WMF then convenes an independent panel of experts who are leaders in the fields of archaeology, architecture, art history, and historic preservation to review the hundreds of nominations and select the most compelling sites for inclusion on the list.

“Since 1996, American Express has made nearly $8 million in grants to 100 sites in 52 countries through the World Monuments Watch. We understand how critically important it is to save these cultural landmarks, because they reflect the essence of communities that date far back into the collective history of humankind. At the same time, they are a great source of local pride, and by attracting visitors from all over they world, they promote a global understanding of that history,” said Cornelia Higginson of American Express. “We also believe that it is vital to draw public attention to the plight of this and other endangered sites because that's the best way to attract additional funding and save as many of these cultural treasures as possible.”

“One of the keys to the success of the World Monuments Watch program is the awareness it raises of national and international endangered sites,” remarked Bonnie Burnham, President of the World Monuments Fund. “Important projects such as these often need support from the international community. The Watch program opens the door to expanded partnerships among the corporate sector, nonprofit organizations worldwide, and local champions of the site. In the case of San Esteban del Rey Mission, we are delighted to be working with Cornerstones Community Partnerships and Acoma Pueblo Historic Preservation Office, and we are grateful for American Express's generous support.”

Since its inception in 1995, the World Monuments Watch program has awarded 315 grants totaling nearly $26.3 million to aid 157 sites in 64 countries. As a direct result of the program, an estimated $58.4 million more has been leveraged directly to the sites from governments, businesses, individuals and institutions for an estimated total of $84.7 million.

Founded in 1965, the World Monuments Fund is the foremost private, non-profit organization devoted to onsite conservation of monuments and sites worldwide.

American Express Company is a global travel, financial and network services provider. Founded in 1850, the company provides individuals with charge and credit cards, Traveler's Cheques and other stored value products. It also offers financial planning, brokerage services, mutual funds, insurance and other investment products.