Media Advisory: Short on Time, Famed SS United States Makes Final Push to Return Home to New York
Time is nearly up as we continue working around-the-clock to save America's Flagship. As we've reported previously, we will need to make a determination about the SS United States's future as early as next week. The ship remains in grave danger without a funded option with a developer or major new philanthropic support. We are urgently continuing discussions with potential partners -- as well as city and state officials in New York -- focused on how to transform the world's fastest ocean liner into an exciting hospitality, retail, event, restaurant, entertainment and museum complex.
With 2,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity hanging in the balance, the SS United States is making her final push to return to her home port of New York in time to avoid being sold for scrap. As reported by the New York Times in July, potential sites for the ship are under consideration in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In the past few weeks, we've had very positive meetings with city officials, as well as the city's Economic Development Corporation, which has expressed firm interest in the project.
The ship has faced its end several times before, most recently in 2011. The SS United States was just days away from being scrapped when a major gift to the Conservancy from H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest enabled us to purchase the vessel. Now, three years later, Conservancy staff and volunteers continue working diligently to generate another 11th-hour save.
The SS United States has touched so many lives and holds such significance for so many that, through your support, financial and otherwise, we have been able to keep her afloat. We receive no government funding; your donations are the ship's lifeline. From more than $20,800 raised during our #10Kin10 Propelled By Champions campaign, to Jim Pollin's $100,000 donation-matching grant, when we have asked, you have answered the call. And with that support you have resoundingly echoed our conviction: she must be saved.
Imagine if we had lost Independence Hall...or "Old Ironsides"...or George Washington's Mount Vernon. Once a historic landmark is gone, there's no bringing it back. For the moment, the "Big U" is still with us -- faded and rusted but still magnificent, still structurally sound -- and ready for redevelopment.
To everyone who has donated thus far, we thank you with the deepest of gratitude. To those who have been waiting to donate or have considered donating again, the time is now. Help propel us through this final stretch as we race to beat the clock to save the greatest American ocean liner ever - and the very last one left. Please make your tax-deductible contribution now to help us buy time as we strive to finalize negotiations to save our nation's flagship and celebrate her legacy.
You can read today's media release HERE.
Support our efforts now to help save and
redevelop the SS United States --
and have your donation matched dollar-for-dollar!
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Thank You for Making #10Kin10
a Monumental Success!
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On Wednesday, September 3, we launched our #10Kin10 Campaign to raise $10,000 in 10 days to help spread awareness of the SS United States and to meet the amount of donations Jim Pollin has pledged to match. To kick off the campaign, supporters changed their social media profile pictures and banners to an image that includes one of Big U's propellers, drawn by renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay.
Each day of the campaign, fans of the ship continued to show support by posting and tweeting our campaign messages and including the hashtags #10Kin10, #SavetheUnitedStates, #SSUnitedStates, and #PropelledByChampions. Along with everyone who made a donation, each person who posted or tweeted using the hashtag #10Kin10 was automatically entered to win a print of the propeller image, personally signed by David Macaulay. Congratulations to winners Michael Brobson of New Jersey and Elizabeth Geary of North Carolina!
The response to our campaign was so substantial, the Conservancy exceeded the $10,000 goal in just seven days! By the end of the 10-day campaign, the Conservancy received over 200 donations from supporters all over the world, totaling $20,865.89! And every single penny of that amount is being matched by Jim Pollin. Therefore, your very generous support during our campaign raised a total of $41,731.78!
We are truly grateful for your ongoing support - the ship is still afloat because of it - and we thank you for donating generously, whether through individual gifts or monthly recurring amounts. These funds will be critical in the next few weeks, and will make a huge impact while redevelopment negotiations continue. In addition to upkeep, your contributions allow the Conservancy to continue to devote energy to the ship's curatorial efforts.
As we get closer to the September 30 deadline, help us spread awareness by becoming an ambassador for the ship. Tweet or share our message with your friends and followers. Tell the world why this ship matters and what she means for America's future:
SHARE ON FACEBOOK:
Why should we #SavetheUnitedStates? Because this #20thCenturyShip has the potential to create thousands of jobs and economic development opportunities. Become a champion here http://bit.ly/1mUvKTe #PropelledByChampions
TWEET THIS:
Only 1 #20thCenturyShip can create so many #21stCenturyOpportunities. #SavetheUnitedStates now http://bit.ly/1mUvKTe #PropelledByChampions
Continue to watch your inbox and social media feeds for news as specific milestones are reached and partnerships are announced.
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Jim Pollin's Matching Pledge Update
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 | | Cruise industry executive Jim Pollin pledges to match up to $100,000 in donations while Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs and Redevelopment Project Managing Director Dan McSweeney look on. Photo by Christine D. Hower. |
As we continue to work feverishly through the process toward an agreement for the ship's redevelopment, supporter donations are being silently matched dollar-for-dollar by cruise industry executive Jim Pollin.
For those supporters new to the cause, Jim Pollin, a huge proponent of the SS United States, donated $120,000 on June 16 to save one of the ship's propellers from the scrapyard, and pledged to match up to an additional $100,000 in donations to the Conservancy.
Since mid-June, the Conservancy has been keeping a tally of all donations coming in from memberships, individual supporter donations, employer matching gifts programs, our #10Kin10 campaign, and most recently our golf tournament last week. In addition, since becoming a registered eBay Giving Fund charity, we have also received funds from auctions designating all or a portion of the proceeds to be given to the Conservancy.
Since Jim announced his pledge in June through close-of-business today, the Conservancy has received $70,796.07 in donations from various sources! With Jim's matching pledge, that equates to $141,592.14 raised for the ship through your donations!
With monthly carrying costs of over $60,000, it is even more critical than ever that we take FULL advantage of Jim's generosity while our board of directors and redevelopment team work toward reaching an agreement before the end of the month. Jim will still match an additional $29,203.93 in donations; let's not leave that money at the table!
You stepped up to the challenge to reach $20,000 in the 10 days of our #10Kin10 campaign. Can we do it again? Help us to earn as much of the additional $29,000 as possible by making your tax-deductible contribution right now. All funds contributed during our 11th-hour effort will continue to be matched dollar-for-dollar and help to buy us additional time for the SS United States while we finalize negotiations.
Again, we thank you for your ongoing generous support, and for continuing to help spread the word about America's Flagship and her importance not only to the past, but also to the future.
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Help us to reach more people
in our quest to save America's Flagship.
Thanks to your support, we are now at over 12,000 followers on our
Facebook page! Remember to follow us on the following social media platforms, and encourage your friends, colleagues and family members to do the same!
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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