The partnership between HGTV and The National Trust for Historic Preservation to preserve a dozen of the nation's treasures kicked off to a star-studded start with the Restore America: A Salute to Preservation gala.
The gala took place in the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Entertainment was provided by recording artists Jo Dee Messina and Jim Brickman and highlights from the gala were featured as an HGTV special, Restore America Honors, on July 4, 2003. Another Restore America special will follow in 2004.
The gala featured the first Restore America Hero Awards, honoring public officials, private citizens and corporations whose energy, vision and leadership have made significant contributions to the preservation of America's historic and cultural legacy. These prestigious awards are part of a major public relations initiative to spotlight the preservation needs of the irreplaceable buildings, collections, documents and works of art that tell the story of our nation.
The first awards honored Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Ralph Regula, apparel maker Polo Ralph Lauren, Brooklyn preservationist Joan Maynard and preservationists Clarice and Robert Smith.
New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Sen. Clinton is the Founding Chair of Save America’s Treasures. During her tenure as First Lady, she personally visited more than 50 sites and with her leadership raised in excess of $49 million for historic preservation projects across the country. Sen. Clinton continues to enthusiastically support the program with personal appearances whenever asked. As National Trust President Richard Moe said in introducing Senator Clinton at a recent SAT event, "Preservation has had no greater friend in the White House—or the Senate."
Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula
Rep. Regula is one of the senior members of the United States House of Representatives, where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education. A stalwart champion of Save America's Treasures from its earliest days, he was instrumental in securing the program's initial funding and has played a key role in ensuring its continued support in the years since.
Historic Preservation Activist Joan Maynard
For more than 30 years, Maynard has been the driving force behind the preservation of historic Weeksville, the pre-Civil War community of freed slaves in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Maynard had no official training as a preservationist when she made it her personal mission to save this unique and special place. Today, she is a Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Maynard's heroic efforts have won her the National Trust's highest honor, the Crowninshield Award.
Visit the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History website for more information.
Historic Preservationists Clarice and Robert Smith
Robert Smith, Chairman of Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty and Charles E. Smith Residential in Washington, D.C., is an avid history buff and historic preservationist. As Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, he has made significant contributions to help preserve several sites including Mt. Vernon, Montpellier, the National Gallery of Art, Lincoln Cottage and others. His wife Clarice Smith is an internationally recognized artist, whose solo exhibitions have appeared in prestigious galleries from New York and Jerusalem, to London, Maastricht and Zurich. Clarice Smith has recently been honored with a University of Maryland cultural and performing arts center in her name.
Corporate Benefactor Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation
Polo Ralph Lauren pledged $10 million in 1998 to conserve and preserve the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem. The donation, and an additional $3 million in-kind contribution for educational outreach and promotion, kicked off the Save America's Treasures campaign to celebrate the nation's past and preserve it for future generations. The $13 million gift is being made to the Smithsonian Institution through Save America's Treasures at The National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Speaking at the announcement, Mr. Lauren said, "The flag is an inspiration for all Americans, and it captures the dreams and imaginations of men and women all over the world. I am a product of the American dream, and the flag is its symbol. We at Polo Ralph Lauren are honored to contribute to the preservation of this important American treasure." In addition to his extraordinary commitment to the Star Spangled Banner, Polo Ralph Lauren has located many of its stores in historic buildings and neighborhoods.
Visit the Polo.com website for more information.
About the Initiative
Restore America: A Salute to Preservation is a new public affairs initiative created to raise awareness and generate support for saving America's most beloved and historic places. Inspired by the popular HGTV series Restore America, the initiative recognizes the restoration efforts at 12 national sites through the network's on-air and online programming. HGTV also is donating $1 million to the National Trust to go toward the restoration and preservation of these selected sites.
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse is HGTV's on-air sponsor for Restore America: A Salute to Preservation campaign.
HGTV was the corporate chair for the 2003 gala. Benefactors are The American Express Foundation, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and The Valspar Corporation.
VIP sponsors of the event included The American Architectural Foundation, Auto Zone, BellSouth Corporation, BoatUS, The Boeing Company, General Motors Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Tauck World Discovery, Clarice & Robert H. Smith, Sylvania, Unico Inc. and Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
Event sponsors included Allied Domecq, American Airlines, BR Cohen & Associates, Continental Airlines, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Forest City, Hale Matthews Foundation, Target, Ruth Usem, UST Public Affairs, The Mayo Charitable Foundation.
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