American Express Awards over $1.2 Million in Performing Arts Grants to Arts Organizations Nationwide.

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

American Express Company today announced over $1.2 million in grant awards through its Performing Arts Fund to performing arts organizations nationwide. The nine recipients will use their grant awards to fund outreach initiatives specifically designed to attract new audiences to the arts and are located in cities across the country: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The American Express Performing Arts Fund was created in 1997 to assist performing arts organizations across the United States in developing and sustaining broader audiences. Since its inception, American Express has given more than $7 million in 66 grants to more than 43 arts organizations throughout the United States.

"American Express is proud to be able to support so many arts organizations across the country as they develop ways to meet the needs of their traditional audiences and bring the captivating power of art to new, younger and more diverse audiences," said Mary Beth Salerno, vice president, American Express Philanthropic Program. "This program represents one of the many ways in which we support our communities. American Express is committed to supporting the arts because art is such an important part of the economic, emotional and social well being of a community."

This year's Performing Arts Fund grants recipients include The Alley Theater (Houston), Boston Ballet, City Center 55th Street Theater Foundation, Inc. (New York), Dallas Summer Musicals, Florida Grand Opera, Kimmel Center, Inc. (Philadelphia), New World Symphony (Miami), San Francisco Opera and Steppenwolf Theater Company (Chicago.)

In recent years, American Express Performing Arts Fund grants have produced a variety of significant results across the country. For example, the Lyric Opera of Chicago created a weekend subscription package designed for patrons outside of the metropolitan Chicago area and also a weekday series to respond to overwhelming demand for additional daytime performances. The New York Philharmonic developed new functionality on their website to adapt marketing approaches to respond to those audience preferences with tailored subscription packages and time-sensitive emails about upcoming concerts, events and discounts. As part of its Ballet for Young People program, the Miami City Ballet utilized a Performing Arts Fund grant to fund a subscription series designed to attract families with children to matinee performances in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. And the Denver Center for the Performing Arts was able to complete a thorough upgrade of their audience development capabilities, specifically: an enhanced website; doubling membership in their email club; "VIP Night" for young professionals and the creation of off-site kiosks for ticketing.

Through philanthropic activities worldwide, American Express seeks to be a good citizen in the communities in which the company does business and where American Express employees live and work. The American Express Philanthropic Program, which includes the American Express Foundation and corporate giving, makes grants to non-profit organizations on behalf of the American Express Company and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com/corp/philanthropy.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, network, and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.