Five Sites That Received Grants Served as Community Anchors in Neighborhoods Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 14, 2009 -- American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced at a press conference this morning that each of the five historic New Orleans sites chosen to receive preservation grants totaling $400,000 through the Partners in Preservation program have successfully completed work on their respective projects.

The grant monies designated for each of the five sites impacted by Hurricane Katrina were based on the specific needs and projects at the chosen sites. Recipients of the Partners in Preservation grants used the funding to successfully complete the following work on their respective sites:

• St. James AME Church: $100,000 grant used for repair and replacement of the pressed tin ceiling and plaster walls of the sanctuary, bringing the congregation of this Mid-City landmark from its fellowship hall back into its beloved church. When fully completed, the restoration of the sanctuary will provide a place of worship as well as a gathering place for community events and activities.
• St. Alphonsus Art & Cultural Center: $80,000 grant used for the restoration of the 1891 front portico of the church building, which included replacing the roof and repairing stucco, millwork and columns. Due to the Partners in Preservation grant, St. Alphonsus also received a $10,000 grant from the Harral Foundation to restore the original pocket doors of the church's main entrance, and visitation levels to St. Alphonsus have increased since this work was undertaken.
• St. Augustine Parish Hall: $75,000 grant used for replacement of the shingle roofing and repairs to rotten and termite damaged wood to the second level balcony floor and ceiling, allowing this Treme parish to once again host gatherings and provide services while also raising funds for the continued operation of its landmark church. Parishioners and members of the community will benefit from a range of programs offered at the church, including classes for children and other faith-based initiatives for adults.
• Odyssey House: $75,000 grant for window and shutter replacement in order to improve its aesthetic appearance and also protect this important Esplanade Ridge-Treme building from future storms so it can continue to provide social services to the community. Odyssey House's visual upgrade has already sparked interest in the community for collaborative projects, and neighbors have approached Odyssey House staff with new ideas for revamping the neighborhood.
• Lafayette Cemetery No. 1: $70,000 grant was used for stabilization of the perimeter wall and wall vaults and installation of a drainage system to prevent future deterioration of the wall vaults, ensuring that this popular Garden District tourist site and community anchor is preserved. Members of the community have already contacted cemetery staff to let them know how happy they are that the wall has been repaired, and visitors to the site have mentioned how surprised and delighted they are with the progress.

Photos and additional information about each of the sites can be found at: www.PartnersinPreservation.com/neworleans

"The five New Orleans sites selected for the Partners in Preservation program help define their neighborhoods and serve as focal points of community life," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "By providing the resources needed to strengthen these community anchors affected by Katrina, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are helping the entire city take another step toward revitalization and recovery."

"When we launched the Partners in Preservation initiative in New Orleans last year, the community immediately embraced the program, sharing their stories and showing support for these meaningful historic places," said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. "We commend those at the sites and in the community for helping complete all these projects. Now the public can witness the dramatic 'before and after' restoration of the sites, preserved for future generations."

As part of the Partners in Preservation program launched in New Orleans in 2008, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation focused specifically on historic sites responsible for bringing the local community together in neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Katrina. People who live in the local New Orleans community and across the country participated in the initiative by sharing stories, photos and comments about these historic places.

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation used specific criteria to select these five grant recipients including their historic, architectural and cultural significance, demonstrated community support for the sites, role as community gathering spaces, damage from Hurricane Katrina, and the ability to complete a preservation project within one year. An Advisory Committee comprised of local business leaders, preservation experts and philanthropists from many sectors across New Orleans helped guide American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the selection process and helped to review each site's story, background, and monetary needs along with the public's stories about the nine historic sites considered for the $400,000 in preservation grants.

About the Partners in Preservation Program
Launched in 2006, Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership 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 allocated $4.5 million in preservation grants, which has allowed recipients to make significant progress in achieving their preservation goals.

In 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 landmarks. The program also seeks to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.

About American Express
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) 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 (www.PreservationNation.org) 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, nine regional and field offices—including the Northeast Office in Boston—29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, 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.

Contacts:
Leslie Berland
212.640.5142
Leslie.A.Berland@aexp.com