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February, 2005

Corporations provide critical early support for Center’s work

The International Freedom Center has been fortunate to receive strong early support from four of the world's leading corporations, American Express Company, IBM, General Electric and Time Warner and New York's leading retail bank, North Fork Bancorp.

American Express was the Center’s first backer, putting up seed funding for development efforts even before the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation officially designated the Center for the World Trade Center site. The American Express Foundation, on behalf of American Express Company and its business units, has renewed this support.

American Express was the Center's first backer, putting up seed funding for development efforts even before the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation officially designated the Center for the World Trade Center site. The American Express Foundation, on behalf of American Express Company and its business units, has renewed this support. American Express has been a major factor in the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan after 9/11, playing a preeminent role in bringing people back downtown. A long-time supporter of the arts, shortly after 9/11 American Express joined with the downtown arts community as the founding sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival and the Downtown River to River Festival. These two initiatives brought millions of visitors to Lower Manhattan and contributed significantly to the downtown economy. American Express has also supported numerous other projects and organizations in order to strengthen the downtown community.

As part of this effort, the American Express Foundation is providing funding to help develop the International Freedom Center. Tom Schick, Executive Vice President of American Express says, "American Express is pleased to support the development of the International Freedom Center. We believe the Center will become an important educational institution, helping all of us to understand better the struggle for freedom here and around the world".

IBM has been chosen as the Center's technology partner. A diverse team from IBM led by Stanley Litow, Vice President of Corporate Community Relations and President of the IBM International Foundation, Paula Baker and Robin Willner, Directors of Corporate Community Relations, and John Tolva, Program Manager and Creative Director, is making a significant contribution of ideas, expertise and technology. IBM is working to create a technology plan for the Center, to develop its initial institutional web site and its forthcoming educational web-based initiatives, as well as on the technological aspects of the visitor experience both virtually and at the museum location.

The IBM team brings to the International Freedom Center project its extensive experience in museums including path-breaking work on the Eternal Egypt project in collaboration with the Egyptian Government and the Hermitage Museum Project at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg Russia, as well as on IBM's global Reinventing Education program serving over 80,000 teachers worldwide.

Litow says, "IBM is proud to be the technology partner of the International Freedom Center. With our expertise in designing best-of-breed solutions for cultural and educational institutions, we are committed to bringing our innovative technology to this most forward-thinking institution."

General Electric has been at the forefront of efforts to respond to the events of September 11 from the outset, making the founding contribution to the Twin Towers Fund, and then sponsoring the "Pillars of Light." GE also sponsored the PBS series Freedom: A History of US which was produced and directed by Kunhardt Productions and was a key initial inspiration for the International Freedom Center. Now GE, the world's second largest company, has also stepped forward as a key backer of the International Freedom Center.

Gary Sheffer, GE's Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs says, "The International Freedom Center will tell the incredible story of courage and imagination of those who have fought for the right to think, speak, worship and live in a free society. GE is proud to support a project that is destined to become one of the world's most important cultural and educational institutions."

As a world leader in media and communications, Time Warner recognizes the importance of its international presence in fostering a global exchange of ideas. It is with this perspective that Time Warner is providing important support to the International Freedom Center.

Lisa M. Quiroz, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Time Warner Inc. says, "Time Warner has a unique heritage of story-telling, across many decades and many types of media. One of the most enduring stories of all time - freedom's 'narrative of hope' - lies at the heart of the International Freedom Center. That's why we at Time Warner are delighted to be able to help bring the Center to life, and look forward to it being illuminated by some of Time Warner's own most memorable words, sounds and images."

North Fork Bancorporation, with its recent acquisitions of The Trust Company of New Jersey and Greenpoint Financial Corp. now operates the largest retail bank in the New York metropolitan area, and provides retail banking services for millions of individuals and institutions-including the International Freedom Center. North Fork recently became the Center's latest corporate funder.

John A. Kanas, Chairman and CEO of North Fork said, "North Fork, in building its own institutional future, has staked its fortunes on those of New York, and is committed to building great new institutions in the world's greatest city. That's why we're proud to play a role in the development of the International Freedom Center, an important part of humanity's response to one of its darkest hours, and a living embodiment of our hopes for freedom's future."

Tom A. Bernstein, Co-Founder, Chairman of the International Freedom Center says, "The belief of some of the world's largest, best-respected and most far-sighted companies in the promise of the International Freedom Center fuels our efforts not only financially, but with energy and inspiration. We'll always be grateful to these earliest backers."

The International Freedom Center has also received important support from a group of leading philanthropic institutions and non-profit entities. This support will be detailed in a forthcoming issue of this newsletter. Funds have also been received from the September 11th Fund, created by the United Way of New York City and The New York Community Trust and from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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