May 7, 2018

SS United States Legacy Cruise Raises $100,000 to Help Save America’s Flagship

Jim Pollin of the Pollin Group presents a check for $100,000 to the Conservancy alongside a number of SS  United States  Legacy Cruise attendees. Photographs courtesy of Geisha Cumberbatch.

The SS United States Conservancy is proud to announce that the inaugural SS United States Legacy Cruise has raised $100,000 to help save America’s Flagship through cruise commissions and donations! In a surprise presentation aboard the Celebrity Summit during the cruise's opening reception, cruise industry executive and philanthropist Jim Pollin, owner of the Pollin Group and winner of the Conservancy’s National Flagship Champion Award, presented the generous check to the Conservancy.

“The Pollin Group wanted to help bring people together who are committed to keeping America’s Flagship afloat,” said Pollin, who last summer made a vital $150,000 donation to the Conservancy’s “We Are the United States” Campaign. “We decided to organize the first annual SS United States Legacy Cruise and donate all of the cruise commissions back to the Conservancy." Pollin continued, "The interest in this journey, which retraces the SS United States’ historic route to Bermuda, has been overwhelming. We’ve shattered our fundraising goal!”  Read more about this incredible contribution HERE.

Cruise industry executive Jim Pollin with conservancy executive director Susan Gibbs.

Luggage tag courtesy of Kingston Winget. New York photograph courtesy of Jane Schuling.

"Bon Voyage" to the SS United States Legacy Cruise! We're wishing fair winds and following seas to all of the Conservancy's friends and supporters that departed on Sunday aboard the SS United States Legacy Cruise to Bermuda! Learn more about a few of the many special guests that have joined us on board:

SS United States crewmember Joe Rota held the positions of First Class Elevator Operator, Bellboy, Waiter, and Photographer aboard the ship. We are so excited to have him aboard now for the Legacy Cruise! Read one of Joe's many fantastic stories of life aboard the Big U. As part of our exciting onboard programming, Keith Harper (right), Design Group Vice President at Gibbs & Cox, will present on the incredible 3D laser scan of the vessel produced by Gibbs & Cox in 2017. Check out the incredible 3D footage produced by Gibbs & Cox.

Cruise industry executive Jim Pollin has been a tireless advocate and supporter of America's Flagship — Ji m rescued one of the vessel's propellers from scrapping in 2014, and in 2017 again helped to secure the Big U's future as a vital contributor to the "We Are the United States" campaign. This year, he has done it again , facilitating the inaugural SS United States Legacy Cruise! The Conservancy's incredible regional chapters are well represented aboard the Celebrity Summit ! Pictured above on a tour of the SS United States are Southeast Chapter co-chair Dorothy Jean Duddy and New York Chapter co-chairs Glenn Lappin and Paul Stipkovich, a few of the many Conservancy chapter members that have joined us!

The Legacy Cruise program features talks and presentations by key Conservancy staff members, prolific author-illustrator David Macaulay, film producer Mark B. Perry and maritime historian David Perry; screenings of the films "Bon Voyage," and "SS United States : Lady in Waiting"; and much more! Check out the final program guide HERE and be sure to follow the Conservancy on Facebook and Twitter for coverage of these exciting events.

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High School STEM Competition Honors SS United States Designer William Francis Gibbs

Images of the SS United States abound at the "William Francis Gibbs Interscholastic Engineering and Design Competition."

The SS United States remains an icon of American design and engineering , inspiring the next generation of young scientists and innovators. The month, the legacy of the Big U's groundbreaking designer, William Francis Gibbs, was honored with the naming of a high school STEM competition: the " William Francis Gibbs Interscholastic Engineering and Design Competition ," held at Tenafly High School, New Jersey, on May 1st.

Student teams design and test their ship models using CAD drawings and prototypes. Photographs courtesy of Tom Basile.

The event featured ten competing high school teams from the New Jersey Interscholastic STEM League, each of whom was given various materials and two and a half hours to design and build a model ship, designed for speed. Students also heard from the Conservancy's Tom Basile, who spoke on the singular history and influence of the SS United States. Read more about this exciting event HERE.

Now Available: Commemorate a Special Voyage with a Custom Arrival Map

The Conservancy is excited to share an exciting new commemorative item available in support of the SS United States!  This great vessel was the gateway to the American dream for thousands of passengers and we're partnering with Jimaworks to offer exciting custom immigration maps, with 15% of the proceeds from sales donated to the Conservancy in direct support of our efforts to save the Big U.! Learn more and place your order HERE.

Sample Jimaworks commemorative map featuring the 1952 maiden voyage of the SS United States .

“I am honored to support the Conservancy as a steadfast guardian of such an important moment in our nation's history.” — Steve Williams, Revere, MA

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