NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

SBJ Staff Report

Jan 3, 2012 -  Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading preservation organization committed to preserving and protecting Savannah's heritage, announced a new strategy to bring attention to preservation efforts, with a planned month-long series of events in May.

The Savannah Preservation Festival will launch on Thurs., May 3, kicking off a month-long celebration of National Preservation Month. All events will be open to the public, intended to reinforce HSF’s mission.

“The Savannah Preservation Festival will be a signature event that emphasizes our core mission of education and outreach,” said Daniel Carey, president and CEO of Historic Savannah Foundation. “We hope everyone will mark their calendars and plan to support and attend Savannah’s newest festival. Where better to celebrate the beauty and impact of preservation than in America’s most beautiful and well-preserved city?”

Highlights of the 2012 Savannah Preservation Festival will include a launch party at Ships of the Sea Museum on the evening of May 3, a volunteer work day at the W.W. Law House on May 5, the HSF Preservation Awards Presentation Luncheon on May 10 and a special walking tour of past award winners on May 18.

Additional events will include a tribute to Isaiah Davenport on May 19, which will focus on Davenport’s architectural legacy in Savannah and offer visual examples of his imprint on Savannah development in the early 19th century. 

“Preservation impacts everyone in our community,” said Terri O’Neil, development director at Historic Savannah Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating Savannah’s commitment to preservation – past, present and future – during this lively festival.”

The Savannah Preservation Festival will also present a free lecture by Preservation Society of Charleston executive director Evan Thompson on May 24.  A special Raffle Drawing Party will close out the celebration on May 31. 

Individual tickets and ticket packages will be available when Savannah Preservation Festival tickets officially go on sale on March 1. For more information, please call 912.233.7787 or visit www.myhsf.org.        

Historic Savannah Foundation was established in 1955 in order to save the 1820 Isaiah Davenport House from demolition. From this initial project, Historic Savannah Foundation launched a Revolving Fund which has since saved 350+ buildings. The mission of Historic Savannah Foundation is to preserve and protect Savannah’s heritage through advocacy, education and community involvement.