American Express Company 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

GRI INDEX
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Our roots in the travel services industry
have given us a deep respect for the
cultural and economic value historic
sites bring to communities around
the world. Promoting stewardship of
these sites is both a commitment and
an opportunity to ensure that future
generations can enjoy them.
2015 HISTORIC PRESERVATION
GRANT IMPACT:
9.1M
TOTAL VALUE OF GRANTS
33
HISTORIC SITES PRESERVED
7
COUNTRIES
(U.S., U.K., Netherlands, Mexico,
Canada, Singapore, China)
Preserving our collective past
for future generations
We are the founding sponsor of World
Monuments Watch (WMW), which
draws attention to cultural heritage sites
around the world threatened by neglect,
vandalism, armed conflict, commercial
development, natural disasters and
climate change.
Our grants to the WMW, which total $16.5
million, have preserved 160 sites in 70
countries ensuring their legacy and cultural
significance for future generations.
Revitalizing cultural legacies
In 2015, we made a $1 million commitment
to Massey Hall, Toronto, for a large-scale
revitalization project. This marks an
important chapter in the story of a unique
Canadian cultural institution. Massey Hall
is not just a national historic site; it’s a
place where music history is made. Over
the past 120 years it has hosted some of
the world’s most renowned artists, from
Bob Dylan and B.B. King, to Aretha Franklin
and Adele, along with a host of Canadian
talent such as Gordon Lightfoot, RUSH,
Glenn Gould and Neil Young.
Since 1974, American Express
has contributed nearly $60
million to preserving more
than 500 iconic historic sites
including The Temple of Hercules
in Rome and the Palace of Fine
Art in Mexico City.
Preserving five American
National Treasure sites
In 2015, we provided $1 million in
funding to the National Trust for
historic preservation to support
the restoration and preservation of
five diverse National Treasure sites.
National Treasures are endangered
buildings, neighborhoods, communities
and landscapes that reveal the vibrancy
of the American story. The sites
selected to receive these grants reflect
important chapters in U.S. history, from
Negro League baseball to architectural
modernism, and the railroad boom to
the Civil Rights Era. The sites include:
Hinchliffe Stadium (Paterson, New
Jersey), Pullman National Monument
(Chicago, Illinois), Painted Desert
Community Complex (Petrified
Forest National Park, Arizona), Sweet
Auburn Historic District (Atlanta,
Georgia), and Federal Hall National
Memorial (New York, New York).
Refurbishing the
Singapore River Walk
We provided a grant to the National
Heritage Board to refurbish the
Singapore River Walk. The River
Walk traces the development of
the Singapore River spanning from
Collyer Quay to Robertson Quay. The
Walk focuses on the contributions
of the river in Singapore’s mercantile
development, tracing the various
communities on its banks, as well
as the spectacular architecture and
history of its bridges. The National
Heritage Board honored American
Express with its Friend of Heritage
award for supporting the project.
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