UPS Foundation Donates $100,000 to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan today accepted a donation from the United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation for the construction and operation of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

"With the support of generous donors, this library and museum will become a fitting tribute from this state and this country to America's greatest president," Governor Ryan said. "The UPS Foundation is making an important contribution to increasing visitor's understanding of Lincoln's life and ideals."

Jim Winestock, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for the North Central Region, presented Governor and Mrs. Ryan with a check for $100,000, bringing the total of private donations to more than $7 million.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a $115 million project under construction in downtown Springfield. The Library building will house the state's 46,000-item Lincoln collection, which is equal to the combined Lincoln collections of the National Park Service, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institution. It will serve as the state's foremost historical and genealogical research facility of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. The Museum's interactive exhibits and artifact displays will include letters, books, personal items and other works based on Lincoln's life and historical significance.

The library portion of the complex will be complete by late 2002, with the museum portion scheduled to open in 2004.

A live camera shot connected to the Internet currently shows a broad view of the construction area in downtown Springfield. Several views will zoom in on the library, the next-door site of the museum and nearby Union Station, an historic train depot that will be converted into a "gateway" building for the library and museum complex.

The United Parcel Service is an international express carrier and package delivery company providing e-commerce, delivery, and financial and logistics services to businesses and consumers across the globe. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is committed to making a difference in communities across the country. The company encourages its employees and their families to use their time and talents to serve as volunteers in their communities.