September 11th Charities to Receive Donations From Release of 'World Trade Center'

September 11th Charities to Receive Donations From Release of 'World Trade Center'

NEW YORK, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Four New York-based charitable organizations that honor the memory of those lost in the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers and provide ongoing support to their families announced today that they will be the recipients of donations from the release of the upcoming film, "World Trade Center."

The film, directed by Oliver Stone, tells the true story of real life Port Authority Police Officers Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, who were rescued hours after being buried beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center. The film recounts their courage, follows their families as they wait for word, and shows the heroism of their rescuers.

The charities will receive 10 percent of all "World Trade Center" ticket sales in every theater across the United States -- more than 2,000 theaters -- for the film's opening five days, from Wednesday, August 9, through Sunday, August 13, 2006.

The organizations that will receive the donations are:

The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation -- The Foundation is the not- for-profit corporation founded in 2005 to realize the Memorial quadrant at the World Trade Center site. The Foundation will raise funds, oversee the design, and operate the Memorial, the Memorial Museum and a Visitor Orientation and Education Center located on eight of the 16 acres of the site. The Memorial will remember and honor the thousands of people who died in the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The Memorial Museum will facilitate the public's encounter with the enormity of loss and the triumph of the human spirit through artifacts, exhibitions, and educational programming. The Foundation has a $300 million private fund-raising goal to build the Memorial and the Museum. It has raised $131 million in private donations from over 17,000 donors from 11 countries and all 50 states.

Tuesday's Children -- Almost five years ago, Tuesday's Children was born of a solemn commitment to the families of 9/11. Today, this non-profit service organization continues to meet the families' unmet and changing needs with innovative services. With programs and offices in New York City, its northern suburban counties, Long Island, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Boston, Tuesday's Children provides a wide-range of child development, family advocacy, mentoring, recreational and social service programs for thousands of 9/11 family members. The initiatives are created with one simple goal -- to develop and provide the resources necessary to ensure that these families reach their full potential.

The Tribute WTC Visitor Center -- Created by the September 11th Families Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers and residents of Lower Manhattan, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center will open across from the World Trade Center site this summer. By engaging visitors in the authentic experiences of those most affected by the events of that day, the exhibits will convey the courage, loss, heroism and grief of those who responded to the tragedy. Interactive exhibits, personal greeters and an environment for reflection will involve visitors in appreciating the scope and impact of the disaster, as well as the enormous outpouring of compassion in response to that loss.

The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund -- The Fund was established in 1985 by Daniel J. "Rusty" Staub to provide financial assistance to the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. After the tragic events of September 11th, the organization expanded its mission to include the families of Port Authority Police Officers and members of the Emergency Medical Service. The Fund gives grieving families immediate financial assistance and, through an annual distribution, provides help to those with lifelong financial hardship. Since 1986, over $87 million has been distributed, with an additional $35 million designated to be paid out through 2009.

Fifty percent of the total donation will go to the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, for the construction of the Memorial's two reflecting pools to be located on the footprints of the original Twin Towers. The remaining fifty percent will be shared equally among Tuesday's Children, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center and the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

Jonathan S. Barnett, Tuesday's Children Board Chairman, said, "In honoring the courage of these men, as well as all the heroes who responded that day and their families, this film is helping us celebrate the human spirit and its triumph over tragedy. This contribution will help Tuesday's Children fulfill our mission -- to provide important social services and support programs for thousands of 9/11 family members for as long as the needs are there. For this, we are deeply grateful."

Marian Fontana, President, and Lee Ielpi, Vice President, the September 11th Families Association, said, "We are building Tribute to ensure the next generation learns from the events of September 11th and is educated on the terrible cost of ignorance and intolerance so much that such an event never happens again. We are deeply appreciative of the effort to tell this story in this film, to join with us in remembering those we loved and lost, and in paying tribute to thousands of extraordinary people who responded to the city in our hour of need."

Stephen J. Dannhauser, President of the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, said, "We greatly appreciate this donation, which will go a long way in assisting the families of our city's fallen heroes. We are also thankful for the recognition of the important work our organization performs on a daily basis to assist and support the widows and children of New York's bravest and finest, EMS and Port Authority responders."

Joseph Daniels, Acting President of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, said, "It's our sacred obligation to remember the innocent victims and honor the sacrifice of the many brave individuals who gave their lives in the September 11th attacks. This contribution will help ensure that the memory of those heroes lives on through the World Trade Center Memorial. Visitors to the Memorial will be able to reflect upon the enormity of the loss and the triumph of the human spirit -- which are the heart of 9/11. By sharing in the many stories of that day through this film and through the Memorial and Memorial Museum, we celebrate the resolve and spirit of the American people."

"World Trade Center" is a Paramount Pictures release.

PLEASE REFER TO THE WEB SITES BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HOW TO MAKE A DONATION.

The World Trade Center
Memorial Foundation -- http://www.buildthememorial.org/

Tuesday's Children -- http://www.tuesdayschildren.org/

The Tribute WTC Visitor Center -- http://www.tributenyc.org/

New York Police and Fire Widows'
and Children's Benefit Fund -- http://www.nypfwc.org/

Source: The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation;
Tuesday's Children;
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center;
New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund

Source: The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation; Tuesday's Children; The
Tribute WTC Visitor Center; New York Police and Fire Widows' and
Children's Benefit Fund

CONTACT: Lynn Rasic of The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation,
+1-212-312-8814, or Wendy McKeever of Tribute WTC Visitor Center,
+1-212-422-3520, ext. 117, or Marcia Horowitz of New York Police & Fire Widows
Benefit Fund, +1-212-843-8014, or Colleen Roche of Tuesday's Children,
+1-212-575-4545

Web site: http://www.buildthememorial.org/
http://www.tuesdayschildren.org/
http://www.tributenyc.org/
http://www.nypfwc.org/

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