While Jacob A. Riis grew up in Ribe, Denmark, he became considerably more well-known in his adopted country, the United States of America. Supporting this project allows us to open up Riis’ work and legacy to a local as well as an international audience and to create a place of learning and reflection on the themes of which he wrote about and was involved with. We welcome donors to share in our vision. You will be helping to preserve and share an important part of history and culture that is highly relevant today.
This work will not be possible without the generous help of our donors.
‘His childhood home in Ribe offers Museum of Southwest Jutland a unique opportunity to convey his story and influence both as social documentary photographer, writer, and social reformer. The house will also show exhibits which will focus on the power of the photo as a significant factor of influencing history.’
Flemming Just, Director, Museum of Southwest Jutland
The museum attempts to build stronger ties between the American and Danish societies. Hence, a foundation was established in 2017 in order to try to attract funding for the realization of the museum. The American Friends Fund of the Jacob A. Riis Museum is headed by Mrs Lela Riis Agnew, Bronxville, NY, a great grandchild of Jacob A. Riis. On a voluntary basis she has devoted some of her strong energy to help raise awareness of the cause of Jacob A. Riis.
Donations have contributed to establish the museum cinema where we show a film about Jacob A. Riis’ life and achievements. This film is about to be extended to a full documentary film, partly sponsored by the national broadcasting company in Denmark, DR. It is the intention to find funding in order to show the film on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the US.
An American Friends Fund of the Jacob A. Riis Museum has been established to enable donations from the USA. The fund is established with the King Baudouin Foundation United States (KBFUS), an intermediary charity that is setup to help European charities and non-profits, like us, to accept donations from the USA. It provides advice, services and takes care of due diligence processes so that donors know their donations are reaching the intended charity or project. Over the years, KBFUS has enabled USA-based donors to successfully support European and African charities and charitable projects.
Because KBFUS is a public charity, within the meaning of Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the IRC, donors may claim the maximum tax benefits allowed by U.S. tax law for their contributions.
If you wish to support us, here is how to proceed:
Gifts by check: Write your check to KBFUS, write ‘Jacob A. Riis Museum’ in the memo section of the check, and send it to KBFUS, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10020.
Gifts by credit card: Go to www.kbfus.org, click on the ‘Donate Now’ button and select ‘Jacob A. Riis Museum’ under ‘Giving Option 1: Nonprofit Partners Overseas’.
Or, go straight to our fund’s site and click ‘Donate’
Jacob A. Riis fund's siteGifts by wire transfer or to contribute other types of property:
Contact KBFUS at:
email info@kbfus.org
phone (212) 713 7660.
LELA RIIS USRY AGNEW – BRONXVILLE, NY
CAROLINE OWRE HARDING HAMMOND – LAKE DRIVE, FL
THOMAS A. PENDRY – CHICAGO, IL
ROBERT LIEBER – NEW YORK,NY
ALEX ABELL – JUPITER, FL
PETER FLINCH – ALEXANDRIA, VA
DAVID AGNEW – BRONXVILLE, NY
MS. & MR. WENDY AND HERB BLOOM – WASHINGTON, DC
MS. RUSHANI BROOKS – CARY, NC
MS. JEFF, STEPHANIE, KYLOR AND CAULLEY BELLISTRI – POTOMAC, MD
MS. MARGARET RIIS PROEGLER – CHICAGO, IL
GLOBAL CHARITABLE FUND – CHICAGO, IL
MS ELISABETH COLB – OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MN
