CHICAGO – April 24, 2018 – Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), through the Pritzker Military Foundation has committed $1 Million to the Army Historical Foundation (AHF), a nonprofit organization who seeks to educate future Americans to fully appreciate the sacrifices that generations of Soldiers have made for the freedoms of the United States.
Established in 1983, AHF was created as a member-based 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. Its funding helps to restore historical army buildings, acquire and conserve army historical art and artifacts, support army history educational programs, research, and publication of historical materials on the American Soldier. The foundation also provides support and counsel to private and governmental organizations committed to the same goals.
The Pritzker Military Museum and Library and the AHF both have missions that advance the preservation of military history for future generations, making this collaboration a mutual benefit to both nonprofit organizations.
This one-million-dollar commitment by Colonel Pritzker through the Pritzker Military Foundation, will consist of a $500k program grant and a $500k challenge grant. All of which will go toward the campaign for the National Museum of the United States Military.
“We made our first installments in 2017 of $100k for each portion of the grant – the program and the challenge grants. Our total lifetime giving history to this organization is over $560k,” said Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), founder of the Pritzker Military Foundation and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. “Giving to another foundation that offers the same commitment of honoring those who have served this country is what our foundation is about.”
In addition to this grant, the Pritzker Military Foundation is providing a loan of $10 Million to AHF to aid in the remainder of the construction of the National Army Museum in Virginia, which is expected to be completed in April 2019.
“We are very humbled to receive not only the grants but a generous loan from the Pritzker Military Foundation to make this vision possible,” says Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan USA (Ret.), AHF’s chairman and former president and CEO of the Association of the United States Army, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. “This contribution will allow us to educate further nd inspire Americans about the history of our military.”
The National Army Museum is expected to draw up to 750,000 visitors annually. Located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the museum will offer three major galleries (Soldiers’ Stories, Fighting for the Nation, and The Army and Society), Army Theater, Army Concourse, Veterans’ Hall, Army Art and Special Exhibition Gallery, Medal of Honor Garden, Wall of Honor, Museum Store and the 7,000 square-foot Experiential Learning Center featuring G-STEM-related programs linked to Army activities. The Museum’s main exterior elements will eventually include the Parade Ground and Grandstand, Vehicle Demonstration Track, Army Trail, Amphitheater and Memorial Garden.
Please visit https://armyhistory.org/ for updates on the construction of the National Army Museum. For more information about the Pritzker Military Foundation, visit https://www.pritzkermilitaryfoundation.org/ or the Pritzker Military Museum and Library http://www.pritzkermilitary.org.
About Pritzker Military Foundation:
The Pritzker Military Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grant making organization furthering the mission and vision of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. The foundation supports organizations that preserve military history and provide essential resource to active military, veterans and families of service members in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. The Pritzker Military Foundation has given more than $4.2 million since its inception in 2017 and has pledged another $7 million in commitments through 2021. To learn more, visit .
About Army Historical Foundation:
The Army Historical Foundation (AHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to educate future Americans to fully appreciate the sacrifices that generations of American Soldiers have made to safeguard the freedoms of this nation. Our funding helps to refurbish historical Army buildings, acquire and conserve Army historical art and artifacts, support Army history educational programs, research, and publication of historical materials on the American Soldier, and provide support and counsel to private and governmental organizations committed to the same goals. To learn more, please visit https://armyhistory.org.
About the National Army Museum:
The National Army Museum will be located on over 80 acres at Fort Belvoir, VA, less than 30 minutes south of our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. The main building will be approximately 186,000 square feet and display selections from over 15,000 pieces from the Army Art Collection and 30,000 artifacts, documents and images. The vast majority of these rare and priceless artifacts have never been seen by the American people. The Museum will welcome an estimated 500,000 to 750,000 visitors every year.