The History Channel(R) Hosts Save Our History National Awards in Washington, D.C.

The History Channel(R) Hosts Save Our History National Awards in Washington, D.C.

Students and Communities from Around the Country Honored for Preserving Local History

NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners of The History Channel Save Our History program were honored at a National Awards ceremony held today at the City Museum of Washington, D.C. The national Save Our History Awards recognizes local communities and classrooms that demonstrate outstanding commitment to history education and preservation of local history. The History Channel created the Awards as an extension of the Save Our History philanthropic initiative, demonstrating The History Channel commitment to inspiring, motivating and educating local communities on the importance of preserving the past.

The three grand-prize recipients were as follows:

* The Fairmont Save Our History Preservation Award -- a $10,000 award to
one exemplary historical organization that demonstrates outstanding
commitment to preservation and history education.

-- Winner: Silsby Restoration Project, Organization: Friendship Fire
Department
The Friendship Fire Department based in Friendship, NY focused on
preserving the first pieces of fire equipment purchased by the
community in 1881. In particular, this community has worked to
preserve a Silsby steam powered fire pump, a hose cart, 1,000 feet
of 2" fire hose and a pre-heater for the steamer.

* The Bank of America Save Our History Classroom Award -- a $10,000 cash
prize to the school or educational organization that demonstrates
exceptional commitment to the program through projects and
implementation of lesson plans.

-- Winner: Teaching from the Grave, School: Minnesauke Elementary
School
The Three Village Historical Society and the Minnesauke Elementary
School teamed up to teach students about the importance of
recording, organizing and interpreting historically significant
cemetery gravestone information in order to find out more about the
history of their local community.

* The Lowe's Save Our History Community Award -- a $10,000 cash prize to
the school, preservation organization or community group that displays
superior commitment to their project and community.

-- Winner: A Dollop of History: An Oral History Project to Preserve
the Culinary Heritage of New Orleans, Community: New Orleans, LA
Students conducted intergenerational conversations to learn more
about the culinary roots of their families and communities. The
project artifacts, including video and audio recordings, recipes
and photographs, will be saved and permanently archived at The
Historic New Orleans Collection.

Additionally, national leaders who have shown exemplary commitment to historic preservation and history education were honored during the awards ceremony. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Warrie Price, President of the Battery Conservancy; and Bob Young, Mayor of the consolidated government of Augusta, received Save Our History Leadership Awards for their dedication to preserving America's treasures for future generations to explore and enjoy. George Stephanopoulos hosted the event.

"The Save Our History National Awards is an exciting opportunity for The History Channel to recognize classrooms and communities around the country for the hard work and dedication to helping preserve our nation's history," said Dan Davids, President of The History Channel -- USA. "We look forward to welcoming all our finalists to Washington, D.C. and giving them the opportunity to explore our nation's past, as well as providing our award winners with the resources to continue restoring pride in their local history."

"We are pleased to be a part of this effort which helps inspire students to study and treasure their local history," said William Couper, President, Greater Washington, Bank of America. "With a legacy reaching back more than 220 years, Bank of America is committed to demonstrating higher standards in the communities we serve and we understand the vital role history plays in all of our lives."

"Lowe's is proud to support the History Channel's initiative with the Save Our History program" said Bob Gfeller, senior vice president for Lowe's. "The grant program has created a call to action for communities, neighborhoods, educators and students to work together on projects that preserve our history."

Save Our History, which received the Promotion Marketing Association's 2005 Super Reggie Award and the 2004 PRO Award for "Overall Best Idea or Concept," was launched in 1998 and is The History Channel national and grassroots initiative that marshals the network's media, creative, and financial resources as well as its advertising, affiliate and promotional relationships to support community preservation nationwide and to enhance the teaching of local history in America's classrooms.

In addition to the National Awards, this year, The History Channel launched a national grant program to fund innovative, education projects designed to bring communities together and engage children in the preservation of their local history. The network received almost 700 applications, including one from every state and Washington, D.C. 29 awards were granted to fund projects ranging from a totem pole restoration in Haines, Alaska to the creation of a women's history walking trail in Dorchester, MA.

In 2004, The History Channel created a full educator's manual -- now linked to all 50 states' educational standards -- in addition to a one-class lesson plan that teachers can utilize to educate students on historic preservation. Approximately 55,000 students in the first year alone used the educators' manual in classrooms across the country. The Save Our History campaign also includes original documentaries, national promotion on The History Channel, broadband activities in schools, and past work with The Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation and others.

Sponsors

For 2005, Bank of America and Lowe's have signed on as official sponsors of Save Our History; other sponsors include Time Warner, U-Haul International, Inc. and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

About Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is one of the world's largest philanthropy services, helping donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world. Originally developed as the private philanthropy service of the Rockefeller family, it is now an independent, nonprofit service that represents the cumulative knowledge and experience of more than a century of high-quality professional service to America's most philanthropic family. Over the past decade, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has served more than 100 clients and facilitated over $850 million in gifts/grants to more than 40 countries.

About AASLH

AASLH was born in 1904 as a department within the American Historical Association. Now, one hundred years later, AASLH is the only national association dedicated to the people and organizations that practice state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides a variety of programs and services, as well as leadership in the national arena.

About Save Our History

Save Our History, The History Channel strategic philanthropic initiative, is a national and grassroots campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education through awareness and regional participation. Save Our History works to mobilize communities and schools across the country to preserve America's national and local heritage, including landmarks, sites and artifacts. This ambitious endeavor traces its origins to Save Our History, the Emmy Award-winning initiative.

The program supplements the teaching of history in America's classrooms, educates the public on the importance of historical preservation and motivates communities across the country to help save endangered local historic treasures. The Save Our History campaign includes original documentaries, special teachers' materials, national promotion on The History Channel, broadband activities in schools, and has worked with The Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National World War II Memorial, American Rivers and The White House 200th Anniversary.

Additional information about the grassroots Save Our History program, including a comprehensive school manual containing suggested lesson plans for grades two through 12 and details about working with local preservation organizations can also be found at http://www.saveourhistory.com/.

The History Channel

Now reaching more than 88 million Nielsen subscribers, The History Channel(R), "Where the Past Comes Alive(R)," brings history to life in a powerful manner and provides an inviting place where people experience history personally and connect their own lives to the great lives and events of the past. In 2004, The History Channel earned five News and Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and previously received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's "Save Our History(R)" campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. The History Channel web site is located at http://www.history.com/.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving 33 million consumer relationships with more than 5,800 retail banking offices, more than 16,700 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than twelve million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 150 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 85 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE:BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.

Lowe's

With fiscal year 2004 sales of $36.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 11 million customers a week at more than 1,100 home improvement stores in 48 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/.

Web sites: http://www.saveourhistory.com
http://www.History.com
http://www.lowes.com

Source: The History Channel

CONTACT: Jenna Farkas, of The History Channel, +1-212-210-9184,
jenna.farkas@aetn.com; or Judee Sidorsky, of Edelman, New York,
+1-212-704-4530, judith.sidorsky@edelman.com, for The History Channel

NOTE TO EDITORS: Press Only: For more information and photography please visit us on the web at http://www.historychannelpress.com .

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