Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art
The Monuments Men and Women Foundation, formerly known as the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, is an American IRS-approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization,[1] which honors the legacy of those who served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during and after World War II,[2][3] more commonly known as the Monuments Men and Women. Today, the foundation continues their mission by recovering Nazi looted artworks, documents, and other cultural objects and returning them to their rightful owners. Raising public awareness is essential to the foundation's mission of "Restitution, Education and Preservation".[4]
Company type
Not-for-profit organization
Cultural Preservation
June 6, 2007
Dallas, Texas
It was founded in 2007[5] by Robert M. Edsel, author of Rescuing Da Vinci,[6] The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History,[7][8] Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis,[9][10] and The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: the Story of the Monuments Men.[11] The film The Monuments Men, scripted, directed by, and starring George Clooney, is based on Edsel's best-seller and was released in February 2014 and has been shown in over 100 countries.[12] The film was also privately shown at the White House for members of President Barack Obama's administration.[13]
The organization was one of the recipients of the 2007 National Humanities Medals presented by President George W. Bush.[14] On October 22, 2015, after nine years of tireless work, the foundation succeeded in having the United States Congress present the Monuments Men and Women, of all 14 nations, with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States.[15] Four living members of the MFAA attended the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, including Monuments Man Harry Ettlinger and Monuments Woman Motoko Fujishiro Huthwaite.[16]