Save Ellis Island Inc

SINCE THE COMPLETION OF THE FERRY BUILDING RESTORATION IN 2007, THE ORGANIZATION HAS COMPLETED ADDITIONAL RESTORATIONS OF THE CORRIDORS THAT CONNECTED THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND TO THE SOUTH SIDE, THE LAUNDRY BUILDING, AND THE RECREATION PAVILION. THESE WERE DESIGNED AND BUILT BETWEEN 1933 AND 1937 AS PART OF A SERIES OF PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH NEW DEAL PUBLIC WORKS FUNDING. IN 2021, WITH A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY HISTORIC TRUST, SAVE ELLIS ISLAND BEGAN THE $3.5 MILLION PROJECT TO STABILIZE AND REPAIR LARGE SECTIONS OF THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS IN PREPARATION FOR REHABILITATION AND REUSE. SAVE ELLIS ISLAND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ITS POPULAR 90-MINUTE HARD HAT TOURS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART WORKSHOPS, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR GRADES 4 THROUGH 12 AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THE ORGANIZATION LEASES TWO OF THE BUILDINGS IT RESTORED FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: THE LAUNDRY BUILDING AND THE RECREATION PAVILION. THE BUILDINGS ARE USED FOR RENTED OFFICE SPACE TO DEFRAY THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND AS PART OF SAVE ELLIS ISLAND'S PROGRAMS. AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, SAVE ELLIS ISLAND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE ENTIRE 14 ACRES OF THE SOUTH SIDE HOSPITAL COMPLEX AND TWENTY-NINE HISTORIC BUILDINGS. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY FEDERAL FUNDING OR ASSISTANCE FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON ELLIS ISLAND. FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2021, MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION COSTS EXCEEDED THE INCOME FROM RENTAL SPACE IN THE LAUNDRY BUILDING.

AS PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAVE ELLIS ISLAND AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS AND ADMINISTERS REVENUE PRODUCING PROGRAMS IN THE HISTORIC ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL COMPLEX. A PORTION OF THE FEES ARE USED TO OFFSET THE COST OF STABILIZATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS. SAVE ELLIS ISLAND PAYS FEES TO VENDORS FOR THE SALE OF TICKETS FOR THE HARD HAT TOUR PROGRAM, SALARIES FOR EDUCATORS TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER FEES NECESSARY TO RUN EFFICIENT PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES THAT OVER 168,000 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THESE PROGRAMS SINCE 2015. THE SAVE ELLIS ISLAND HARD HAT TOUR OF THE ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANT HOSPITAL HAS BECOME A NUMBER ONE "POINT OF INTEREST" TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.SAVE ELLIS ISLAND PROVIDES STIMULATING PROGRAMS ON THE HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 4 THROUGH 12. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED HOURS OF EDUCATION TO UNIVERSITIES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. SINCE THE ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL WAS ORIGINALLY A TEACHING HOSPITAL, THE ORGANIZATION COVERS RELEVANT HISTORIC MEDICINE ON ITS TOURS. ALSO INCLUDED IS INFORMATION ABOUT ARCHITECTURE, GLOBAL MIGRATION, PRESERVATION, AND ART. PROGRAMS RANGE FROM THE 90-MINUTE HARD HAT TOUR COVERING 1.5 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL GROUNDS TO FULL DAY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS. SINCE 2020, SAVE ELLIS ISLAND HAS OFFERED A MONTHLY VIRTUAL SERIES TITLED "THE AUTHOR SERIES." THESE BOOK DISCUSSIONS, WHICH INCLUDE DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHORS, HAVE COVERED EVERYTHING FROM THE BIOGRAPHIES OF FAMOUS ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANTS TO CULTURE AND FOOD. DUE TO THE INCREDIBLE ATTENDANCE AND POSITIVE AUDIENCE REACTION, THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION IS IN THE PLANNING STAGES OF A 12 PART SERIES ON THE HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION TO NEW JERSEY. NEW JERSEY HAS THE FIFTH-HIGHEST IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.