The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Community Center to use funds to archive, preserve and share
stories of LGBTQ history for on-site interpretive materials
American Express (NYSE:AXP) today announced a $100,000 grant to
the National Park Foundation’s Centennial Campaign for America’s
National Parks for Capturing LGBTQ History, a project led by New
York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center (The Center) to chronicle and communicate the robust
narrative of the Stonewall uprising to visitors at Stonewall
National Monument.
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Stonewall National Monument, New York,
NY. Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann
The grant, which is part of the National Park Foundation’s
effort to raise $2 million to fund essential projects at the new
national park site will provide critical support for the extensive
historical research and outreach needed to establish the foundation
for interpretive materials and programs for the site.
This grant complements the more than $13 million in funding
American Express has provided to park-related causes over the past
three years. Funds have been used to preserve sites within national
parks, increase volunteerism, and encourage people of all
backgrounds to rediscover their parks–particularly in urban
areas.
“For more than four decades, American Express has pledged to
save and sustain places that exemplify our nation’s rich and
diverse history,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American
Express Foundation. “As the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ civil
rights movement, Stonewall represents a struggle fought by millions
of Americans. We are proud to help preserve the legacy of this
meaningful site for future generations.”
"We’re grateful to American Express for helping the park collect
oral histories that will bring the events of Stonewall to life and
create a rich visitor experience," said Will Shafroth, president of
the National Park Foundation. “American Express’ grant highlights
the crucial role private support plays in enhancing our national
parks and connecting people to the important American stories they
share."
“Since our founding, The Center has unwaveringly served,
celebrated and empowered the LGBTQ community with a demand for
justice and a steadfast commitment to honor the legacy of those who
sparked a revolution at Stonewall and proclaimed, ‘enough is
enough,’” said Glennda Testone, Executive Director of The Center.
“We are proud to help cultivate and share this integral part of
American history with generations to come, elevating the voices and
preserving the contributions of those who resisted fear, inspired a
movement and who remind us to embrace our differences and shared
humanity in our march towards equality and justice.”
“The National Park Service is committed to telling stories that
reflect all of American history. The struggle for LGBTQ rights,
represented through Stonewall National Monument, expands an ongoing
narrative about the fight for civil rights and equality under the
law,” said Commissioner Joshua Laird of the National Parks of New
York Harbor. “I’d like to express our gratitude to American Express
for its long-standing support of places connected to our nation’s
rich history and to the National Park Foundation for its ongoing
commitment to our national parks. This grant will help the National
Park Service preserve the story of Stonewall for generations to
come.”
Stonewall National Monument honors an important chapter in the
country’s civil rights journey–reflecting the diversity of the
American experience and the array of historical sites stewarded by
the National Park Service.
The events of June 28, 1969, at The Stonewall Inn, located in
Greenwich Village in New York City, marked a significant turning
point in the fight for LGBTQ rights. At this site, police conducted
a raid that had become routine at gay bars, often resulting in
harassment and arrests. Unlike previous raids, the crowds held
their ground in demanding civil rights and refused to disperse. The
protest, which expanded to neighboring streets and into nearby
Christopher Park, grew to several thousand people and lasted for
six days. Within two years, the uprising inspired citizens across
the country to form LGBTQ rights groups in almost every major
city.
Today, The Stonewall Inn is recognized as a National Historic
Landmark by the National Park Service. Designated on June 24, 2016,
Stonewall National Monument, located in Christopher Park and part
of New York City’s Historic Greenwich Village, sits across the
street from The Stonewall Inn and is open to the public. It is one
of 417 units of the National Park System.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing
customers with access to products, insights and experiences that
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About the National Park Foundation
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of
America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park
Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park
Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84
million acres of national parks through critical conservation and
preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable
natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE
the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the
National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched
The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a
comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the
future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find
out more and become a part of the national park community at
www.nationalparks.org.
About National Parks of New York Harbor
You may be surprised to learn that there are 12 National Parks
and affiliated sites comprising 24 unique destinations in New York
City and northern New Jersey. The National Parks of New York Harbor
includes nearly 27,000 acres and welcomes more than 18 million
visitors each year. The Parks offer year-round programs,
recreational opportunities, natural habitats, historic buildings
and museum collections. Learn more at nps.gov/npnh.
About The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center
Established in 1983, New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
& Transgender Community Center empowers people to lead healthy,
successful lives. The Center celebrates diversity and advocates for
justice and opportunity. Each year, The Center welcomes more than
300,000 visits to our building in the West Village neighborhood of
Manhattan from people who engage in our life-changing and
life-saving activities. To learn more about our work, please visit
gaycenter.org.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170615005241/en/
American ExpressJocelyn F. Seidenfeld,
212-640-0555jocelyn.f.seidenfeld@aexp.comorNational Park
FoundationAlanna Sobel,
202-796-2538asobel@nationalparks.orgorNational Parks of New York
HarborMindy Anderson, 212-668-2208minerva_anderson@nps.gov
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