Bank of America Sponsors the Return of this National Historic Landmark to its Home in NYC

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum announced today the support of Bank of America as a major partner of the museum. As part of the multi-year sponsorship, Bank of America will also be the Presenting Sponsor of the Intrepid's historic return to Pier 86 in Manhattan on October 2nd and reopening on November 8th following an extensive two-year renovation.

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'Bank of America's sponsorship of the Intrepid offers an unprecedented integrated sponsor relationship with the Museum and is the perfect partner to help re-launch the Intrepid,' said Susan Marenoff, executive director of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 'As the official and exclusive banking sponsor of the Intrepid, Bank of America will provide on-site banking services and branding, title special events throughout the year, create programs benefiting our sister foundations and more. In addition, they will be the presenting sponsor of a number of our special events leading up to our reopening.'

'At Bank of America, we are extremely proud of our outstanding history of serving the financial needs of military personnel and their families. It is only fitting that we extend our support and partnership with the Intrepid Museum,' said Patrick Rainey, Military Segment executive. 'This is a very exciting time as the ship returns refurbished and full of new, fascinating exhibits that honor and celebrate our military heroes both past and present.'

Elements of the three-year sponsorship which runs through 2011 include:

-- Presenting Sponsor of 'Intrepid Returns,' a series of events including the return trip to Pier 86 on October 2nd leading up to the reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on November 8th which includes a fireworks display on the Hudson River and the official re-opening ceremony on Veterans Day November 11th.

-- Sponsorship of several annual events including the 'Summer Salute to Heroes' to honor various heroes in the New York Tri-State area.

-- Provide sponsored class trips to the Museum for NYC public school students whose schools might not otherwise have the resources to visit the Museum.

-- The inclusion of the Intrepid as part of Bank of America's popular Museums On Us(R) program, in which the bank's customers will get free admission to the Intrepid on the first weekend of every month starting in 2009.

'We are very much looking forward to this partnership and the many programs which will benefit our visitors over the next several years,' said Marenoff.

Intrepid

One of the world's largest maritime museums, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, is housed aboard the 900-foot-long ESSEX class aircraft carrier Intrepid, which saw service during World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. It also served as a prime recovery vessel for NASA during the Mercury and Gemini space programs before it was retired in 1974. Four years later, Zachary Fisher established the Intrepid Museum Foundation for the sole purpose of 'saving the Intrepid for generations to come.' Listed in the National Park Service's National Historic Landmark register, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum was opened as a symbol of peace and education in August 1982. The Intrepid has been undergoing extensive renovations since fall of 2006 and will return to its home at Pier 86 in October 2008. Prior to leaving its home on the Hudson River at West 46th Street, the Intrepid attracted more than 750,000 people each year from around the world, from children to senior citizens and world leaders. It also hosted more than 150 special events, and served as a focal point during New York's annual Fleet Week celebration. The Intrepid produces a wide range of public programming, and is recognized worldwide as an historic icon that makes history come alive for visitors through its unforgettable series of dynamic and interactive exhibits. For more information, visit www.intrepidmuseum.org

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Member FDIC.

                            www.bankofamerica.com

SOURCE Bank of America; Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum