... And About Us: American Friends of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

American Friends of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (“American Friends”) is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization that was established in September 1999. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the organization as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) as a public charity described in section 509 (a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. American Friends’ goal and objective is to promote, encourage and foster understanding and appreciation by the American public the plays and other works by William Shakespeare. American Friends through monetary contributions and donations also supports the preservation of the Shakespeare houses and educational programs of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

From 1999-to date (2009), support has included donations to The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for:

• Support of a Columbia University (NY) summer study program at the Shakespeare Centre sponsored by former Congressman (R-NY) Benjamin Gilman Graduate Fellowship scholarship program,
• Co-sponsorship of the “Great Garden Sculpture Education Program” including the permanent placement of eight bronze monuments inspired by Shakespeare’s plays: The Tempest, Hamlet, King Lear, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Falstaff and Henry IV, Macbeth and The Winter’s Tale,
• Support of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage’s “Tree Garden, Young Artists’ Program,” co-sponsored by the Royal Academy of Arts, London,
• Support for the renovation and enhancement of the Harvard House,
• Support for educational programs at the Shakespeare Centre with American colleges and universities,
• Participation in the National Endowment for the Arts 2006-2007 Chairman’s Grant “Rembrandt/Shakespeare: Themes of Interiority.”