American Express Announces $10-Million Commitment to Continue Partners in Preservation Program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Continued dedication to historic preservation will benefit communities nationwide

BOSTON, MA - Today, American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will announce an additional $10 million in funding for the Partners in Preservation program. Launched in 2006, the program focuses on raising public awareness for preserving our nation’s cultural and historic sites by awarding preservation grants in cities across the country based on a competitive voting process involving members of the community.

“This grant represents a continued commitment to ensuring that important historic places across the country are kept open and accessible to community members and visitors,” said Kenneth Chenault, American Express chairman and CEO. “Bringing the community together and helping to preserve and raise visibility for these wonderful historic sites is what Partners in Preservation is all about. This additional commitment will allow the program to benefit even more cities across the country.”

Through Partners in Preservation, American Express has contributed more than $5 million to support preservation programs in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle. By engaging the community in an “American Idol”-style voting competition, American Express helped draw attention to the need for historic preservation in a way that has yielded more donations, more members, more visitors and more media coverage for the participating historic sites.

This renewed commitment will expand Partners in Preservation’s reach to new cities across the country, which will benefit from funds to help restore significant historic places that enrich each city while driving local activism.

“During the last five years, Partners in Preservation has helped more than 100 historic places across the country as diverse as the Paragon Carousel in Greater Boston and the Japanese Cultural Community Center in Seattle,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “American Express is helping lead the charge to save our irreplaceable heritage and, with this latest grant, Partners in Preservation will reach more Americans and more cities across the nation.”

Chenault will announce the additional grant at a ceremony honoring him with the Old North Foundation’s Third Lantern Award, which recognizes individual commitment and dedication to public service.

Chenault joins prestigious past recipients of the Third Lantern Award including former President Bill Clinton, the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, former Boston Mayor Kevin H. White and Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino.

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 all of the $5.5 million in preservation grants, which has allowed recipients to make significant progress in achieving their preservation goals. As part of its commitment to preservation, American Express gave $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.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, twitter.com/americanexpress and youtube.com/americanexpress.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (http://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, eight regional and field offices, 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.