When President George Bush was about to give a speech to thousands who would gather at Federal Hall in New York City, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the inauguration of America’s first president, his speech office needed some good stories. They heard about our expertise in finding and telling stories surrounding New York City’s rich history and asked for our help.
FOUNDLING HOSPITAL NYC
Challenge.
This former orphanage and social service agency wanted to document their 100-year history, generate funding, and raise awareness of their important agency.
Solution.
In addition to interviewing employees and clients at the agency, we combed through the Foundling Hospital’s dusty archives and found a treasure trove of letters, left by Victorian women at the agency’s doorstep, explaining why they had to leave their newborn infants with them. These heartbreaking letters told the story of a New York filled with disease, despair, social injustice, and few options for poor women, had been never seen by the public. We used these letters as the basis of a live, one-person storytelling performance.
Performances were given at key venues throughout the state including festivals, schools, and private functions at the New York Life building and the Museum of the City of New York. The shows were very well received and resulted in new and renewed support by corporate sponsors and an article the New York Times Magazine, gaining the client national attention.
See New York Times Magazine article generated by our own Lisa Lipkin here.
story_stichting_nyt_mag
Challange
Solution
We reached in to our existing storehouse of rich material and we combed historical archives for rarely heard anecdotes about George Washington’s tenure in New York City, during the nations first two years. The White House Speech office was thrilled with the unusual, humorous, and imaginative material, which they had never run across. The new stories were included in the president’s opening remarks.