The Conservancy recently received a donation from Jim and Judy Ducceschi from Germantown, Ohio, along with the letter below, utilizing one of the most unique and inspiring approaches to charitable giving we've yet to see...
   
"Enclosed find our check in the amount of $32.89 as our support for your efforts to hopefully recover, save or restore, in some manner, the great SS United States.... In the event that you may be curious about the reasoning and odd amount behind our donation, it really is quite simple.

a) Our chosen charities are few and only those we feel are truly worthy and not just a "charity business."  Some of these include the Mayo Clinic, Salvation Army, and Children's Medical Center. We feel your goal is worthy because this ship represents some of the best that America was, could be, and our hope that it may be again...

b) ...We're using a nominal amount of our government "stimulus" windfall money that we didn't ask for or need and donating it to your worthy cause in lieu of our government's intended use of just spending it on more "stuff" to "help" our ridiculous economy.

c) We estimate there are presently approximately 350 million Americans and we heard that the estimate to restore this great ship might be as high as $500 million.  That represents just $1.43 from every true American that appreciates the American greatness this ship
represents.  We are donating that amount for ourselves, each of our 5 children, their 4 spouses, and our 12 grandchildren, or 23 x $1.43 = $32.89.  We sincerely hope this donation helps you achieve your goal.

May God bless the future of the SS United States and America!"