From:           
The Intrepid Foundation
Luke Sacks (646) 381-5282 / lsacks@intrepidmuseum.org

Contact:
Rubenstein Communications Inc., Public Relations
ody Fisher – 212-843-8296 / jfisher@rubenstein.com

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New York, NY (June 28, 2011) – The Intrepid Foundation, the not-for-profit organization that benefits the operation of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, is one of a handful of charities personally selected by Craigslist and craigconnects founder Craig Newmark that will compete to be the recipient of a set of grants totaling $100,000 as part of a campaign to raise money and awareness for its work with veterans and military families, it was announced today. 

"A lot of people do a lot of good work to help military families and vets, and I'd like to bring attention to them and to provide some direct support," said Newmark. "These guys really get the job done, effectively providing services and advocacy where they're needed.”

For three days, June 28 – 30, every donation made to the Intrepid Foundation via Razoo will count as one vote toward the top prize to be donated by Mr. Newmark, with smaller prizes going to the runners up, in order of descending number of votes.  Additionally, the participating organizations will an extensive social media effort through Twitter, Facebook, and the craigconnects website. 

The funds donated to the Intrepid Foundation during this effort will support the Museum’s Access Initiative for veterans with physical, emotional or cognitive challenges and for military families affected by developmental disabilities such as autism. The goal of the project is to ensure that Veterans with physical, emotional or cognitive challenges, and Military families affected by developmental disabilities such as autism, engage in meaningful cultural experiences together as families, each of whom most deservingly need our support as they have so selflessly given to us through their service.

The Intrepid Museum’s Access Initiative includes:

• ASL-Led or ASL-interpreted programs for visitors who are Deaf
• Open captioned live events for visitors who are Hard-of-hearing
• Verbal Description & Touch Tours for visitors who are Blind or have low vision
• Enhanced activities for families affected by developmental or emotional challenges
• Sensory tours for adults with physical disabilities

Craigconnects is Newmark’s personal, Web-based initiative aimed at helping people work together for the common good using the Internet.  In addition to veterans’ organizations, the initiative spotlights many other organizations and agencies working in the areas of community building, connectivity, journalism integrity, open government, service and volunteering, and technology for social good.  To find out more or participate, visit www.craigconnects.org.

About Intrepid Foundation:
It is a shared goal of the Intrepid’s Family of Foundations to support the men and women of the United Stated Armed Forces, Veterans and their families through programming and events. The Museum is poised to provide specialized programming to serve and honor Veterans and Military families who are affected by varied physical, developmental or emotional challenges.  Programs concentrate on Intrepid’s history during World War II and Vietnam, as a prime recovery vessel for NASA in the 1960’s, and in the Cold War. Program are led in small groups, includes handling of artifacts, and explores select exhibitions, including living quarters, aircraft, and anchor chain room applying audience-specific techniques such as verbal description, audio clips, touch objects and tactile guides. American Sign Language (ASL) tours are voice interpreted for hearing friends and family, and special holiday celebration events (for example, Memorial Day and Kids Week) are ASL-interpreted and open captioned using CART services.