NEW ORLEANS, LA, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced five historic New Orleans sites chosen to receive preservation grants for restoration projects. As part of the Partners in Preservation program launched in New Orleans last month, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation focused specifically on historic sites responsible for bringing the local community together in neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Katrina. People who live in the local New Orleans community and across the country participated in the initiative by sharing stories, photos and comments about these historic sites.

The grant monies designated for each of the five sites are based on the specific needs and projects at the chosen sites. Recipients of the Partners in Preservation grants are:

* St. James AME Church: granted $100,000 for repairs of the pressed tin ceiling and plaster walls of the sanctuary, bringing the congregation of this mid-city landmark from its fellowship hall back into its beloved church.

* St. Alphonsus Art & Culture Center: granted $80,000 for the restoration of the 1891 front portico of the church building, which includes replacing the roof and repairing the stucco, millwork and columns, enabling this Renaissance Revival gem in the Lower Garden District to continue its service to the community.

* St. Augustine Parish Hall: granted $75,000 for repairs to the sealtab shingle roof and repairs to rotten and termite damaged wood to the second level balcony floor and ceiling, allowing this Treme parish to once again host gatherings, provide services and raise funds for the continued operation of its landmark church.

* Odyssey House: granted $75,000 for window and shutter replacement in order to protect this important Esplanade Ridge-Treme building from future storms and so that it continues to provide social services to the community.

* Lafayette Cemetery No. 1: granted $70,000 for stabilization of the perimeter wall and wall vaults and installation of a drainage system to prevent future deterioration of the wall vaults, ensuring that this popular Garden District tourist site and community anchor is preserved.

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation used specific criteria to select these five grant recipients including their historic, architectural and cultural significance, demonstrated community support for the sites, role as community gathering spaces, damage from Hurricane Katrina, and the ability to complete a preservation project within one year.

An Advisory Committee comprised of local business leaders, preservation experts and philanthropists from many sectors across New Orleans helped guide American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the selection process and helped to review each site's story, background, and monetary needs along with the public's stories about the nine historic sites considered for the $400,000 in preservation grants.

"We are pleased to have launched Partners in Preservation in New Orleans as part of our ongoing support towards rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina. Through the program we have been able to raise visibility locally and nationally for these community anchors that have a rich and meaningful history of bringing people together," said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. "With the grants we are providing for these five historic treasures, we are preserving their significance and relevance for future generations as New Orleans rebuilds for tomorrow."

"The stories that people have submitted to the Partners in Preservation website emphasize the important role many of these historic places have played in the everyday lives of New Orleans residents -- as gathering places and as focal points of community life," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Ever since Katrina, the National Trust has been working to restore and revitalize the historic neighborhoods of New Orleans. We believe that American Express' Partners in Preservation program is yet another step in the direction of revitalizing New Orleans and helping people return to the their homes and communities."

The Partners in Preservation website www.partnersinpreservation.com will be live through the summer for people to continue to share their stories, photos and comments about the historic sites and other great New Orleans historic sites.

About Partners in Preservation

The Partners in Preservation program is a philanthropic initiative designed to increase public awareness of the importance of preserving environmental, historic and cultural landmarks for future generations to enjoy. Through the Partners in Preservation program, American Express is providing $5.5 million to the National Trust to be distributed over five years to help preserve cultural assets. In 2006, the San Francisco Bay Area was the first region selected to receive funding and Chicagoland was the second region in 2007 to benefit from a funding grant.

More information about the American Express Partners in Preservation program and each site can be found at www.partnersinpreservation.com.

About American Express

American Express Company is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express' involvement in the community, reflecting its recognition of the contribution of sites and monuments to a sense of national and local identity and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighborhoods. As early as 1983, American Express launched a cause-related marketing effort that raised $1.7 million for the preservation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. From 1996 to 2005, American Express contributed more than $10 million to help preserve 126 historic sites in 62 countries from the World Monuments Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. In June 2006, the company announced the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as its partner in the U.S. and the World Monuments Fund as its partner internationally.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation 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, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, 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. For more information visit www.PreservationNation.org.
Members of the media can find photos and additional information at http://press.nationaltrust.org .

American Express Company

American Express Company

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

More from American Express Company