Dear Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to create a world-class experience for visitors of the National Museum of the Pacific War, thank you for all that you do to support us.
Surveys show that about 12% of U.S. museums remain closed after the pandemic, and the museums that are open are averaging a 38% drop in attendance when compared to pre-pandemic times. While we have seen a softness in admissions recently, our outlook is very optimistic. In fact, we are in a strong position to improve and expand our efforts, thanks to the generosity of many supporters like you.
This year, we resumed our Living History reenactments called “Pride in the Pacific” and an expanded series of “Outpost” demonstrations with several thousand visitors thus far. We continue airing Webinars, the latest one about Midway, for which attendance was our best ever. We are well on track to open the new Children’s Exhibit in Q1 2023 and further renovations in the George H.W. Bush Gallery for state-of-the-art improvements will continue in 2023.
We are receiving attention far beyond Texas for the work we have done in the educational space to reach K-12 students through Distance Learning (DSL). After a DSL program for her students, a San Antonio teacher said, “I rarely use the word exceptional, but I would use it to describe the virtual museum visit today. You touched on some of the most vital pieces of our 5th grade curriculum, but beyond that, you told our students a story that is vital to the fabric of our country.”
I am very proud of the way we navigated the pandemic, and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation was recently recognized with the Charity Navigator 4-Star designation - for the 7th year in a row! In his letter to us, Charity Navigator President and CEO Michael Thatcher said, “only 10% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 7 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that The Admiral Nimitz Foundation outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets The Admiral Nimitz Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”
One of our goals is to strengthen our national prominence, specifically in the educational space. We are actively identifying ways to deliver award-winning educational programming and content to even broader student, teacher and parent audiences. We are making a difference.
You are a key part in that success. Because this requires continued investment, I ask for your support. Please be assured your investment will always align to our mission as we expand our outreach, which is to honor the history and the lasting global relevance of the lessons of WWII in the Pacific. As a member, donor, or visitor, you should have confidence that you are part of something special by supporting our efforts.
Thank you for being a part of our expanding journey. Stay well and stay safe.
Best,
Mike Hagee , General, USMC (Ret)
President and CEO | The Admiral Nimitz Foundation