The American Express contribution has two parts. First, the company will donate one cent to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation for every purchase made on an American Express® Card of up to $2,500,000 from December 1, 2003 through January 31, 2004. The company will also make a direct contribution of $500,000. Cardmembers nationwide will be able to donate their American Express Membership Rewards® points to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, or make a direct contribution and charge it to the card.

Beyond a contribution, American Express is committed to raising additional awareness and funds for the cause. The company has commissioned acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese to produce and narrate a documentary on the Statue of Liberty that is scheduled to air on the History Channel on January 15. The History Channel is planning to air an evening of programming dedicated to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the new Scorsese film will be the centerpiece of the evening. Those who donate $100 or more to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation during December and January will receive the Scorsese documentary in DVD format as a thank you.

American Express has a long history supporting both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, beginning in 1885 when the company raised money through a call to employees to help fund the Statue's pedestal. In 1976, in honor of the nation's bicentennial, American Express made a $75,000 grant for restoration work and also underwrote a documentary film about the history of the Statue, which was shown to millions of Statue visitors for many years. Twenty years ago, American Express launched its first and best-known national cause-related marketing campaign, to fund the restoration work on the Statue in preparation for its centennial celebration in 1986. The company also supported The American Immigrant Wall of Honor® at Ellis Island, raising a total of $19 million.

"Supporting the Statue of Liberty is a special part of American Express' own heritage," explained Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express. "She has inspired people the world over for more than 100 years and today she needs our help.

"By reopening her doors to the public, we hope to attract visitors from around the world who will rediscover her role as a beacon of freedom and hope."

"The Statue of Liberty resonates with everyone across the globe," said Martin Scorsese, filmmaker. "On a personal level, the Statue made a lasting impression on my grandparents when they first came to America early in the 20th century. Reopening the Statue to the public is an important cause and I hope that people will take the time to look closely at the ideas and values the Statue represents."

"The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of opportunity on which our nation was founded," said Stephen A. Briganti, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation President and CEO. "We must ensure that her doors are open for every generation to experience what she stands for. As they have so many times in the past, American Express has once again come to the aid of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and we are grateful for their continued commitment."

"I applaud the commitment of American Express, The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, and the citizens of this nation who have given so much of their time and resources to preserving and protecting this treasured national icon. Partnerships and collaborative efforts such as this have been a long standing tradition at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island," said Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. "We have been working with the Foundation and are making great progress on many improvement projects toward reopening the Statue."

American Express has also been playing a very active role in helping to revitalize lower Manhattan and reopening the Statue underscores the company's commitment to that effort.

To raise awareness for the Statue of Liberty fundraising effort, American Express is launching a multi-media communications campaign on December 1 that includes: national print, television and Internet advertising, as well as non-traditional visibility concentrated in the New York metropolitan area. Messages about the need to reopen the Statue's doors will be seen by rail commuters on subways and the Path train, as well as on New York area ferries, Metro Card sleeves and in office elevators.

For more information or to donate money to the cause please visit www.statueofliberty.org or call 212-561-4588. Or to make a donation using Membership Rewards points, visit www.americanexpress.com or call 1-800-AXP-EARN.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, network, and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to raise funds for and oversee the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition, the Foundation has created an endowment to the maintenance of the monuments and created the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, The American Immigrant Wall of Honor® and The American Family Immigration History Center(TM).