WASHINGTON, DC.- Alan and Sandy Whitman have donated $100,000 to support the National Postal Museum抯 expansion to create the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. Alan is a managing director at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and an active member of the museum抯 Council of Philatelists.

The Smithsonian and the U.S. Postal Service recently signed a lease agreement for the additional space to build the gallery. This new space will be added to the museum抯 existing 65,000 square feet and is scheduled to open in the next couple of years.

揂lan and Sandy抯 donation reflects true passion for the hobby of stamp collecting,� said Allen Kane, director of the museum. 揂s a leading collector of Classic U.S. stamps, Alan understands what this new gallery will do to promote philately in an impressive and unprecedented way.�

揗y wife and I have always felt compelled to give back, and helping the National Postal Museum encourage the stamp collecting hobby to a broad range of visitors is a wonderful way for us to do so,� said Whitman. 揝tamp collecting has provided me tremendous enjoyment and seeing the museum create that same excitement for visitors around the world is truly inspiring.�