For Immediate Release January 9, 2009 Lauren Beyea 202.434.9543/LBeyea@fords.org FORD’S THEATRE SOCIETY COMMISSIONS ANN HAND TO CREATE LIMITED EDITION LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL PIN Washington, D.C.—Ford’s Theatre Society has commissioned Ann Hand to create a limited edition pin to commemorate the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth in 2009. The pin is inspired by the eagle and motto “One Country – One Destiny,” which was stitched into the overcoat Abraham Lincoln wore for his second Inauguration, and which he was wearing the evening he was assassinated. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pin benefits the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign for historic Ford’s Theatre. About The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Pin On the day of his second inauguration, President Abraham Lincoln wore a wool coat that had a one-of-a-kind, handstitched design of an eagle and the phrase “One Country, One Destiny” embroidered on the inner lining. It was the same coat that Lincoln wore on the evening of April 14, 1865, when he was assassinated during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre. Commissioned in honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth on February 12 2009, The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial pin is inspired by the design from Lincoln’s coat. A bald eagle clutches a ribbon inscribed with the phrase that Lincoln carried with him as a reminder of his patriotic vision. The original coat is part of the Ford’s Theatre Museum collection. The Lincoln Bicentennial Pin, which is crafted in solid sterling silver with 18k gold overlay, is available for purchase through Ford’s Theatre Society by contacting (202) 434-9545 or membership@fords.org. The cost per pin is $250. The pin is also available to patrons who purchase The Almost Lincoln Bedroom Package at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., available from January 1 through April 30, 2009. For more information on The Ritz-Carlton package, please contact (202) 835-0500 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/WashingtonDC.com. About Ann Hand Ann Hand is the founder and owner of Ann Hand, LLC, one of the most distinctive and prominent jewelry design firms in Washington, D.C. The wife of Lloyd Hand, an attorney and former United States Chief of Protocol, Ann is a long-time member of the Washington power structure. Her passion for American history has inspired an acclaimed collection of majestic eagles, stately seals, flowing flags and Washington landmarks. Hand’s creations have been chosen by The White House, Department of State and Department of Defense as diplomatic gifts for foreign dignitaries worldwide. Our nation’s most prominent women, including First Ladies, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Congresswomen and Ambassadors have worn her signature pin, The Liberty Eagle. Additionally, Hand has designed for the Armed Services, the Naval Academy and West Point, and she designed the official pin worn by spouses of the U.S. House of Representatives. In recent years her collections have expanded to include a line of cufflinks, scarves, limited-edition enamel boxes and other unique gift items. Hand owns and operates two salons in Georgetown. Capital Campaign The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign is a $50+ million capital campaign that will support the renovation of Ford’s Theatre and its museum as well as the building of the new Center for Education and Leadership, an education center focused on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. To date, the campaign has raised over $48 million. The Ford’s Theatre renovation and expansion project has been made possible primarily through donations from private sources—individuals, foundations and corporations—as well as $8.9 million in federal funding and a recent $10 million grant from the District of Columbia. As the lead corporate donor, ExxonMobil has awarded the campaign a $5 million Leadership Circle grant and the State of Qatar has joined them with a $2.5 million gift. More recently, the Leadership Circle has expanded to include Ronald O. Perelman, Chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., with a $2.5 million pledge. BP America Inc. has provided a $2 million contribution, as well as $1 million dollar donations each from AT&T, Foster Wheeler; Sheila C. Johnson, Founder of Salamander Hospitality, LLC; T. Boone Pickens Foundation; The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation/Wayne & Catherine Reynolds, David & Alice Rubenstein, The Paul Singer Family Foundation, Samsung and Toyota. The following corporations, individuals and foundations have also generously provided gifts of $500,000 or greater to this project: The Adelson Family Charitable Foundation, American Airlines, BAE Systems, Carl and Edyth Lindner, General Dynamics, The Freed Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, O’Melveny & Myers Raytheon Company, Southern Company and Sunoco, Inc. Ford’s Theatre Society Since it reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre has been one of the most visited sites in the nation’s capital. Ford’s Theatre has enthralled visitors because of its unique place in United States history, and its mission to celebrate the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and explore the American experience through theatre and education. For its accomplishments, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the U.S. government to artists, arts institutions and arts patrons. Ford’s Theatre Society works to present the Theatre’s nearly one million visitors each year with a high quality historical and cultural experience, enhancing the vibrancy of this historic site, an important tool for promoting the ideals of leadership, humanity and wisdom espoused by Abraham Lincoln. Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, Ford’s Theatre Society has been recognized by the critics and theatergoing public for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed Big River to the regional premiere of Trying and world premiere of Meet John Doe, Ford’s Theatre has undoubtedly begun to make its mark on the American theatre landscape. In addition, through the leadership of Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the mission of Ford’s Theatre Society has recently been expanded to include education as a central pillar of the organization, equal to that of producing theatre of the highest quality. As Ford’s Theatre looks to the future, the health of the organization will be defined and determined not only by the quality of the productions on the stage but also by the success of its educational programming in teaching about the life, Presidency and lessons of leadership of Abraham Lincoln. For more information on Ford’s Theatre and the Ford’s Theatre Society, please visit www.fords.org. ###
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ann Hand Commissioned To Create Limited Edition Lincoln Bicentennial Pin
