David M. Rubenstein Gives $5 Million to White House Historical Association In Support of New White House Visitor Center

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association is honored to announce a $5 million gift by businessman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to the Association in support of the revitalized White House Visitor Center opening on Saturday, September 13.

The completely transformed visitor center is the result of a public-private partnership between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Association. Mr. Rubenstein's generous gift provides the funds for an endowment commitment made by the Association for the ongoing improvement and upkeep of the center.

"The White House Historical Association deserves enormous credit for creating a much needed White House Visitor Center, and I am honored to support their efforts," David M. Rubenstein said.

The re-opening of the center marks the culmination of a two-year project that was supported by an earlier gift of  $7.5 million from the Association to support the center's architectural planning, exhibit, design and fabrication, and media production—more than half of the project's cost.

"Mr. Rubenstein's support of the White House Historical Association and our mission to bring the rich history and extraordinary legacy of the White House to life for the American people and visitors from around the world is tremendous," said Frederick J. Ryan, Chairman of the Board, White House Historical Association.  "His gift will ensure that generations to come will be able to experience the White House through the visitor center."

Improvements to the center include interactive exhibits, a large-scale model of the White House, numerous tactile elements, and a new permanent museum gallery, a temporary exhibit area, a retail shop, visitor information facilities, and numerous opportunities for children and families to connect to the history of the White House and President's Park.

The education offerings at the White House Visitor Center will expand upon the robust scholarly and educational work currently underway at the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at Decatur House, which was established by the Association in 2010 following a generous gift of $10 million from Mr. Rubenstein.

About the White House Historical Association

The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit educational association founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. It was created at the recommendation of the National Park Service and with the support of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. All proceeds from the sale of the Association's books and products are used to fund the acquisition of historic furnishings and art work for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of public rooms, and further its educational mission. The Association also sponsors lectures, exhibits, and other outreach programs. Thousands of schools, universities, and libraries have received free educational materials about the White House. To learn more about the Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @WhiteHouseHstry, YouTube, or Facebook.

About the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at Decatur House

In 2010, the White House Historical Association established the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at Decatur House, a research and educational institute housed at a National Trust for Historic Preservation site.  Currently, the center provides ongoing educational programs for students, teachers, scholars, and the general public on the history of the White House and the President's Neighborhood.  The center is currently developing a digital library, which will offer unparalleled opportunities for online research and distance learning. Recently, the Center hosted America Under Fire: Mr. Madison's War & The Burning of Washington City, a bicentennial symposium, in conjunction with The United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS), and James Madison's Montpelier.

About David Rubenstein

David M. Rubenstein is Co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager based in Washington, DC. He is also Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Duke University, a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, Co-Chairman of the Brookings Institution, Vice-Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations and President of the Economic Club of Washington. In 2010, he donated $10 million to establish the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at Decatur House; in 2012, Rubenstein donated $7.5 million to repair the earthquake-damaged Washington Monument; and in 2013 he donated $10 million to George Washington's Mount Vernon to support the construction and endowment of a library to house Washington's books and papers and to serve as a center for leadership training; as well as $10 million to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello to restore upper floors of the house and reconstruct Mulberry Row, the adjacent plantation community where slaves and workers lived.

SOURCE White House Historical Association