NEW YORK.- The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation held its inaugural meeting today and created a governance structure naming co-chairs and members to the Nominating, Governance, and Compensation Committee, a chair and members of an Executive Committee, and confirming John C. Whitehead as Founding Chairman. All 33 members of the Board of Directors participated in the meeting. The Board today created a Nominating, Governance, and Compensation Committee that will lead efforts to create a broader committee structure to govern the Foundation. The committee is co-chaired by Russell Carson and Ira Millstein who are expected to propose the comprehensive structure at the next board meeting in April. The Board also adopted membership of an Executive Committee, initially chaired by John Whitehead, which in the interim period between board meetings will have the authority to act on behalf of the Board. Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, and former Mayor Giuliani all serve as Honorary Trustees to the Foundation. Former Mayor Giuliani addressed the Board defining the importance of the task ahead and the focus necessary to create a memorial ensuring a complete understanding of the courage as well the losses of September 11th for future generations.

Former Mayor Giuliani said, “The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation is committed to creating a lasting monument to the greatest attack ever on American soil. We must recognize that this is hallowed ground and will create a place that reflects the gravity of the attack. The way we handle this site will help determine how future generations understand the events of September 11, 2001."

Governor Pataki in his State of the State address today announced new state and federal legislation to create a check box on tax returns for donation to the Foundation. Governor Pataki said, “To this day, generous New Yorkers want to know what they can do to pay tribute to our heroes. In response, I will send legislation to add an income tax check-off on our State income tax forms, so we can all give from our hearts to build the Memorial. I would like our entire nation to have the same opportunity to honor those we lost and to that end, I’m pleased to announce that Staten Island Congressman Vito Fossella has agreed to shepherd a bill through Congress providing the same donation option on our federal forms. This way, Americans everywhere will have the chance to help honor the memory of our fallen heroes.”

The Board concluded the meeting by viewing the site plan and memorial models with Master Site Planner Daniel Libeskind, Memorial Architect Michael Arad, and Associate Architect Max Bond. Mr. Arad and Mr. Bond detailed the recently completed schematic design of the memorial, “Reflecting Absence,” to the members.

Founding Chairman John C. Whitehead said, “Today’s meeting was very productive. With all of the directors in attendance, we created the backbone of a governance structure that will move the process forward. I look forward to convening our second meeting in April to continue to build on our efforts.”

The 33 member Board of Directors includes business leaders, victims’ family members, and leading philanthropists. Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and William J. Clinton will serve as Honorary Members and have all pledged their support for the Foundation. John Whitehead will serve as Founding Chairman on an interim basis until such a time as a permanent chair is selected by the Board. Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, and former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will serve as Honorary Trustees. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private notfor-profit corporation that will construct, own, operate, and maintain the World Trade Center Memorial, an on-site museum and a performing arts building. The Foundation’s primary responsibility will be to raise funds for, and coordinate the planning and construction of, the Memorial at the World Trade Center site. Next Spring, the Foundation will undertake a historic fund-raising campaign to implement architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s design for the Memorial, Reflecting Absence. The Memorial features reflecting pools within sunken voids that encompass the footprints of the Twin Towers and provides a final resting place for all of the unidentified remains of those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The Foundation will also be charged with overseeing the fundraising for the construction of the Memorial Center, an interpretive museum that will preserve artifacts from the attacks and convey individual stories of lives lost, as well as a coordinated campaign with the related cultural facilities to be occupied by the Drawing Center, the International Freedom Center, Joyce International Dance Center, and the Signature Theatre. The Foundation will raise resources, and will own, operate, and govern the entire memorial and cultural complex at the World Trade Center site.