This quarter, Project Open Hand is proud to showcase American Express through our Corporate Spotlight.

Established in 1850 in New York, American Express Company was among the first and most successful express delivery businesses to arise during the rapid westward expansion of the United States. The company that forwarded freight and valuables evolved into a company that created and sold financial products such as money orders and travelers cheques. Following an era of international expansion, American Express became perhaps best known for its charge card. Today, it is a global travel, financial, and card services provider.

Based at corporate headquarters in New York, the Philanthropic Program is comprised of the American Express Foundation, created in 1954, which makes grants for charitable, educational, or cultural purposes, and the American Express Company Giving Program for selected grants. American Express makes grants in three major program areas: economic independence, cultural heritage, and community service.

Employees across the country and around the world are involved as volunteers and advocates for many of the initiatives funded by the Philanthropic Program.

American Express has been a partner with Project Open Hand in providing meals with love since 1990. American Express has donated more than $25,000 for our nutrition programs through grants and matching gifts. Their latest gift of $10,000, given in December of 2004, was a challenge grant to help encourage other donors to give through our annual telephone funding campaign.

Thank you very much to our partners at American Express from the staff, board, volunteers, and clients of Project Open Hand.

If you wish to learn more about American Express, please log onto their web site at www.americanexpress.com.