American Express Announces Top Five Project Ideas for The Members Project; Final Voting Phase Ends Aug. 5

Today, GoodBiz113 ad partner American Express® announced the top five project ideas selected as finalists for The Members Project, the unique online initiative that's bringing American Express Cardmembers together to submit, discuss and rate ideas to make a positive impact in the world.

Thousands of Cardmembers from across the country have come together to vote, narrowing the field from the top 50 project ideas to the top 25, and now to the top five. Cardmembers have through Sunday, Aug. 5, to cast their vote for the winning idea, which will be announced on Aug. 7.

As the final voting phase of The Members Project begins, American Express is calling for Cardmembers to register and vote for their favorite project idea. For every Cardmember that registers, American Express will contribute $1 toward the winning idea. American Express has committed at least $1 million to bring the winning idea to life.

Final Five Project Ideas
Following, is a list of the five finalists. [NOTE: Cardmember-selected project categories and project descriptions are in their own words.]

* "Teachers ask. You choose. Students learn. -- This program aims to create a website where public school teachers can request specific educational projects for their classrooms, and individuals can log on to choose which projects to fund, in turn, providing educational tools for students from low-income families nationwide." Fulfilling organization: DonorsChoose.org.

* "Plant a Million Trees: Global Reforestation -- From forest fires to rainforest destruction, to natural water disasters to overdevelopment, trees are disappearing in vast numbers all over the globe. This plan suggests planting millions of trees where they are needed most." Fulfilling organization: American Forests.

* "Wind and Solar for Residential -- This project plans to create a small power-generating unit that is small and powerful enough to be placed into every residential home. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a community of homes to help generate power for the power companies to use." Fulfilling organization: American Solar Energy Society.

* "Children's Safe Drinking Water -- Four thousand children die needlessly every day from drinking contaminated water. This program aims to address this issue through an innovative and low-cost technology that effectively purifies and cleans water while removing bacteria, viruses, and parasites." Fulfilling organization: US Fund for UNICEF.

* "Restore our U.S. National Parks -- The United States' National Parks and Historic Sites are in disrepair, and funding is needed to repair and refurbish. This project aims to provide funding to the landmarks that define our nation." Fulfilling organization: National Park Foundation.

Thought Leaders Contribute to Selection Process
American Express worked with an Advisory Panel of renowned thought leaders in a variety of fields to review the top-rated projects, as rated by the Cardmembers, and select the top 50 project ideas. Based on popular Cardmember vote, the top 50 project ideas have been narrowed down to the top five.

Cardmembers can now again cast their vote, with the winning idea announced on Aug. 7. Cardmembers can register on http://www.membersproject.com/ through Aug. 5.

Advisory Panelists include:

* Geoff Canada -- President and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone

* Ellen DeGeneres -- Comedian and Talk-Show Host

* Dr. Jane Goodall -- Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

* Dr. Sanjay Gupta [pictured above] -- CNN Chief Medical Correspondent and Neurosurgeon

* Rosabeth Moss Kanter -- Harvard Business School Professor

* Dr. Michael Lomax -- President and CEO, United Negro College Fund

* Wynton Marsalis -- Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center

* Gabrielle Reece -- Professional Volleyball Player and Sports/Fitness Expert

American Express, Membership and Giving Back

American Express Company [http://www.americanexpress.com/] is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. American Express has been synonymous with “Membership” since it introduced “Member Since” dates on its Cards in 1964, and has continued to develop a sense of membership through the special benefits and exceptional services offered to Cardmembers.

The Members Project -- which is a part of American Express’s new brand campaign, “Are You a Cardmember?[SM]” -- highlights the value of being part of the American Express Cardmember community. Giving back is a core value of the Company, and being a “good citizen” is a hallmark of the brand.

Over the years, American Express has supported causes that are important to Cardmembers, merchant partners and the general public -- from reopening the Statue of Liberty after 9/11, to fighting hunger and preserving historic sites around the world. Through these programs, including The Members Project, American Express is providing an outlet for consumers’ desire to “do good.”

Sources: American Express, CNN [photo]
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Dixon Gallery and Gardens, in Memphis, Hosts Rodrigue Retrospective: July 29-Oct. 17, 2007

The spectacular work of GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"] will be featured during a retrospective exhibition at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, in Memphis, Tenn., from July 29 through Oct. 14, 2007.

Titled "Forty Years of Cajuns, Blue Dogs and Beyond Katrina," the exhibit will showcase more than 100 paintings plus many never-before-seen original works on canvas and sculpture created during the artist's prestigious 40-year career. Explore the evolution from oak trees to Evangeline, from Cajun fishermen and politicians, to the incomparable Blue Dog.

Two special events include:

* An opening reception with Rodrigue, with music performed by Cajun legend Hadley Castille. It's from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. To purchase tickets, call Juliana at [901] 312-1254, or e-mail jbjorklund@dixon.org.

* At 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, Rodrigue will present an artist's lecture.

For additional details on events and travel information, visit www.georgerodrigue.com/rodrigue_dixon_museum.html
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American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Select Chicago Metro Area as Second Region for Partners in Preservation Program

Yesterday, GoodBiz113 ad partner American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that the Chicagoland metro area was chosen as the next region for the community-based Partners in Preservation initiative.

Following on the heels of the inaugural San Francisco Bay Area Initiative, the Chicago metro area will be the second region to receive $1 million in funding from American Express under the initiative. The Chicago community will be invited to participate in the program by voting for their favorite landmark to ultimately choose the winning historic site from a list of contenders.

Launched in 2006, the Partners in Preservation program is a historic initiative in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, pledged $5 million over a five-year period toward preserving historic sites in the United States.

In September 2006, American Express allocated $1 million in preservation grants to thirteen sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 2006 Bay Area grant recipients continue to make progress in achieving their preservation goals. Some sites have already broken ground, while others are finalizing their planning to ensure successful project completion in 2008.

The Partners in Preservation initiative is designed to benefit local historical sites and involves community participation in a fun and engaging online model to choose the winning historic site.

"American Express created the Partners in Preservation program to underscore the importance of preservation -- not only of buildings but of culture and history -- and to promote travel and tourism around the country," said Tim McClimon, president and CEO of the American Express Foundation. "We are happy to announce that Chicagoland will be the second region to benefit from our online philanthropic program, and are confident that Chicagoans will embrace the program as passionately and sincerely as the Bay Area community did."

"Chicago has always prided itself -- and rightly so -- on its rich history, innovative buildings and landscapes," said David Brown, executive vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "It is a perfect place for our Partners in Preservation initiative. Every phase of the city's past is reflected in the historic places that enrich and enliven its neighborhoods. These are the places that Chicagoans love, and we're delighted to work with American Express and the Chicago community to identify and restore the best of them."

The Chicagoland program will be similar to the San Francisco Bay Area effort. American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will identify historic sites throughout the metro area that reflect the region's rich and diverse cultural heritage to be candidates for preservation grants.

In September, the Partners in Preservation team will reveal the site candidates and the public will be invited to vote online for the landmarks they would like to see win and receive funding for preservation. American Express will also announce the members of a special Advisory Committee comprised of Chicago area dignitaries to help guide American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in selecting the winning sites. Further details around the Chicago program, timing, dates, sites and online voting will be announced in September.

American Express's partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of historic and environmental conservation in the United States; preserve American historic and cultural landmarks; and strengthen local communities through preservation efforts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring America's historic landmarks and communities.

More information about the Partners in Preservation program and status of the San Francisco Bay Area project grant recipients can be found at http://www.partnersinpreservation.com/.

American Express and Historic Preservation
American Express [http://www.americanexpress.com] 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 119 historic sites in 59 countries from the World Monuments Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites; and

* 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 [http://www.nationaltrust.org] is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities.

Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the National Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1949, and provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America's story. Staff at the Washington, D.C., headquarters, six regional offices and 28 historic sites work with more than 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.

Source: American Express
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