Although the doors to America’s latest international philatelic exhibition closed on June 4, proceeds from last summer’s World Stamp Show in New York City continue to help fund the hobby’s future.
To date, a total of $200,000 USD has been donated to three major organizations. See below for comments from representatives of each group in their own words.
SCOTT ENGLISH, executive director of the American Philatelic Society (Scott@stamps.org)
“WSS-NY 2016 gave a $25,000 Matching Donation to support the update of the APS website and email marketing. The APS has developed a plan to target stamp collectors between the ages of 30 and 50, who are more likely to be active online and receive information via email than more traditional collectors. From 2000 to 2016, the APS has seen under age 50 recruitment decline from 37 percent of new members to only 12.5 percent.”
“WSS-NY 2016 gave a $25,000 Matching Donation to support the Council on Postal Collectors, formed by the APS, American Topical Association, American Stamp Dealers Association, National Stamp Dealers Association, National Postal Museum, U.S. Postal Service, and Amos Media as a permanent working group to increase the visibility of the hobby, bring more collectors together, and assess technology needs for stamp sales and collecting within the hobby.”
Matching donations can be sent to:
American Philatelic Society
100 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Attn: Scott English – Executive Director
HANNAH MOLOFSKY TRUMBULL, external affairs-special events co-ordinator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (TrumbullH@si.edu)
“WSS-NY 2016 gave a $50,000 gift that will support the endowment for the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. The endowment supports our philatelic gallery so that it has the resources it needs to be associated with the highest standards in philatelic excellence today and in the future. We would love to encourage others to join the effort. To learn more about supporting the National Postal Museum, please contact the External Affairs Department at 202.633.7900 or NPMgiving@si.edu.”
MARK BUTTERLINE, executive director of the Boston 2026 World Stamp Show (Mark.Butterline@Boston2026.org)
“The Organizing Committee of Boston 2026 express their deepest appreciation to World Stamp Show-NY 2016 for their very generous $100,000 donation. It continues the fine tradition of U.S. international shows providing the initial seed money for the country’s next world exhibition. This particular gift will be used for the second deposit on the Boston Convention & Exposition Center, as well as design, insurance, and other show setup costs.”
Additional donations can be sent to:
Boston 2026 World Stamp Show
c/o Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History at Regis College
241 Wellesley Street
Weston, MA 02493
“This is not the end of the giving,” according to World Stamp Show organizers. “Donations to additional 501(c)3 non-profit philatelic societies will be made by World Stamp Show-NY 2016 as the financial books close in the upcoming months. A final report will be released to officially conclude this most successful event at that time.”