March 24, 2007

PENSACOLA NEWS JOURNAL SPONSORS $1 MILLION "DO IT!" CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT MARITIME MUSEUM

PENSACOLA- The Pensacola News Journal is sponsoring a "Do It!" campaign, a community-match program to support the Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center with the ultimate goal of raising $1 million.

"Do It!" Campaign partners include Gulf Power Foundation, McGuire's Irish Pub, Nature Trail Subdivision and Whitney Bank. The Pensacola News Journal and the community challenge partners will match contributions from the community up to $250,000 and encourage gifts of all sizes from individuals and businesses throughout the region. The potential collaborative result of $500,000 would be eligible for a dollar for dollar match through the State of Florida's Alec P. Courtelis program, translating to $1 million in support for the museum.   All "Do It!" donors will be listed in the Pensacola News Journal and everyone will have the opportunity to participate in this Community Challenge up until May 4. Online contributions can be made by logging on to pnj.com/DoIt. Mail-in forms will be made available through "Maritime Museum - Do It! - PNJ Challenge" ads in the Pensacola News Journal. Gift forms and prepaid envelopes will also be available at the Pensacola News Journal, Gulf Power (Pensacola Corporate Office), McGuire's Irish Pub, Nature Trail Realty sales center and Whitney Bank (Pensacola branch locations only).   "I have organized "Do It!" campaigns in other cities and they have always been well received," said Kevin Doyle, president and publisher of the Pensacola News Journal. "Pensacola is a very generous community that recognizes the value of this type of project; I believe individuals and businesses will rise to the challenge. This is the time to make your gift count-four times greater than it normally would. Regardless of the size of gift, it will make a difference."

Owned and operated by UWF, the museum will be an integral part of the Vince Whibbs, Sr. Community Maritime Park. It will be dedicated to the continued education, preservation and research of Florida's cultural and natural maritime resources. The museum will host a broad array of hands-on, interactive exhibits, including an aquarium. It will serve as a premier educational and research facility for the State of Florida.   "Undoubtedly, the John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center will be a signature facility for UWF and the community," said John Cavanaugh, UWF president. "This community challenge campaign will serve as a great vehicle to reflect the community's tremendous support for the museum."   To learn more about the campaign or to make a tax-deductible gift through the UWF Foundation, visit the Pensacola News Journal Web site at pnj.com or contact the UWF Division of Development.

The Pensacola News Journal has been serving the news and information needs of the Pensacola Bay Area since 1821, and is owned by Gannett Company, Inc., an international news and information company that publishes USA TODAY and more than 100 daily newspapers in the U.S. and England.

For media inquiries contact Becca Boles, market development director, at (850) 435-8577 or e-mail rboles@pnj.com.