For immediate release:

Contact:
Kristin Aguilera
Museum of American Financial History
Communications Director
212-908-4695
kaguilera@financialhistory.org

FINANCE MUSEUM RECEIVES LARGEST-EVER CORPORATE FOUNDATION GRANT
Wells Fargo Foundation Award to Help Offset 9-11 Losses

Financial District, New York City - On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Wells Fargo & Company in New York City in 1852, and in response to the events of September 11, 2001, the Wells Fargo Foundation has donated $150,000 to the Museum of American Financial History to help it recover from the impact of last fall's terrorist attacks on the nearby World Trade Center. The museum closest to Ground Zero, it sustained severe financial losses in the months following the attacks.

The award is the largest corporate foundation grant received by the Museum in its 14-year history.

The presentation was made in New York City on March 18 at Federal Hall National Monument, adjacent to the site of the company's first office at 16 Wall Street. "At this point in the history of American business, it is important to support an organization that preserves what is best about the role of financial services in society and its impact on customers, shareholders and employees," said Dr. Andy Anderson, Wells Fargo chief historian. He noted the gift of $1,000 for each of the company's continuous years in business. Accepting the gift, Museum Chair John E. Herzog thanked Wells Fargo for bringing its anniversary observance and its epic story of endurance - through a century and a half of stagecoach robberies, ship sinkings, great fires, and earthquakes - back to the city of its founding.

The connection between the Museum and the company associated with the financial underpinnings of nation-building in the 19th century is a heartwarming September 11 story, according to the Museum's Executive Director, Brian Thompson. According to Thompson, Dr. Anderson was in New York City on September 11 to meet with the publisher of his recently completed company history, and heard radio interviews with Museum officials. Upon his return, he joined company and foundation officials in conversations on how best to bolster New York's recovery effort, and a plan emerged to aid the Museum. "We are deeply moved and deeply grateful," says Thompson.

The Museum of American Financial History, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the nation's only independent public museum dedicated to the history of growth, opportunity, and entrepreneurship in our democratic free market economy. The Museum serves members, visitors to its gallery and website, and program participants nationwide with exhibits, events, publications and scholarly resources. Educational programming promotes financial literacy and empowerment, drawing upon the Museum's unsurpassed document collection.

The Museum is open to the public Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is $2. For additional information, call 212-908-4695.