Families of Flight 93 Receive $1.15 Million from Universal Pictures

Families of Flight 93 Receive $1.15 Million from Universal Pictures

Percentage of 'United 93' Opening Weekend Gross Assists Families' Efforts to Honor Heroes of Flight 93

SOMERSET, Pa., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Universal Pictures made a contribution of $1.15 million to Families of Flight 93, a 501(c)(3) not-for- profit organization formed to commemorate and honor the heroic actions of the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Universal's contribution will be used by the Families of Flight 93 to further efforts for a national memorial.

"We are extremely grateful for Universal Pictures' generous donation and to Paul Greengrass for letting us work so closely with them during the filmmaking process," said Hamilton Peterson, President of Families of Flight 93. "Universal's contribution, along with other private and federal funds, will help ensure our efforts to permanently honor the forty heroes of Flight 93."

In advance of the release of "United 93," Universal pledged that 10 percent of all box-office revenue collected from the first three days of the North American release would benefit the efforts to memorialize the heroes of Flight 93. "United 93" opened nationwide April 28, 2006, with a total weekend gross of $11,478,000 million. Today, Universal delivered a check in the amount of $1,147,800 to the Families of Flight 93.

"Working on 'United 93' continues to be the rarest of privileges for all of us at Universal Pictures," stated Michael Moses, Executive Vice President of Publicity for Universal Pictures. "We are inspired not only by the actions of the heroes on board Flight 93, but from the support and involvement their family members have given to the film. We are very happy to contribute more than a million dollars towards realizing a permanent memorial for the passengers and crew of Flight 93 and encourage everyone else who has been touched by their story to donate what they can."

For information about the Flight 93 National Memorial, or to learn how to contribute, please visit www.honorflight93.org.

About Families of Flight 93

The 15-member Board of Directors of Families of Flight 93 is an Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to assist and support the development and management of the Flight 93 National Memorial.

About the Flight 93 National Memorial

On September 24, 2002, Congress passed the Flight 93 National Memorial Act. The Act created a new national park unit to commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's capital. The Memorial is near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001.

The Flight 93 National Memorial project made history as the first national park designed entirely through an open, public design competition. The year- long, international competition received more than 1,000 submissions created by professionals and members of the general public.

A diverse jury comprised of family members, community representatives and design professionals chose the winning design because it most completely exemplifies the mission of the memorial. The final design selection for the Flight 93 National Memorial, announced September 7, 2005, was created by Paul Murdoch Architects of Los Angeles. The design can be viewed online at www.flight93memorialproject.org.

When completed, the Flight 93 National Memorial will encompass 2,200 acres of land, of which almost 1,300 acres will be dedicated to the design features, and 900 acres will be protected through partnerships and scenic easements. The National Park Service is the steward of the Flight 93 National Memorial.

About Universal Pictures and United 93

Universal Pictures and StudioCanal Present in Association With Sidney Kimmel Entertainment A Working Title Production of A Paul Greengrass Film: United 93. The casting is by Amanda Mackey CSA, Cathy Sandrich Gelfond CSA, John Hubbard, Dan Hubbard. The music is by John Powell; line producer is Mairi Bett. The costume designer is Dinah Collin. The production designer is Dominic Watkins. The editors are Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse ACE, Richard Pearson. The director of photography is Barry Ackroyd BSC. The executive producers are Debra Hayward and Liza Chasin. The film is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lloyd Levin and Paul Greengrass. United 93 is written and directed by Paul Greengrass. www.united93movie.com.

Source: Families of Flight 93

CONTACT: Michael Moses of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-5926, or
michael.moses@nbcuni.com; or Lisa Tristano of MARC USA PR, +1-412-562-1189, or
ltristano@marcusa.com, for the Families of Flight 93

Web site: http://www.honorflight93.org/
http://www.flight93memorialproject.org/
http://www.united93movie.com/

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