Caring Causes: American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés

What do you give the person who has everything? Or your co-worker? Your fiancé? Your mother-in-law? Give them a piece of history.

American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to fund the restoration of Paris' oldest church. As part of this effort, they are offering patrons the opportunity to “adopt” one of the hundreds of stars that comprise the ancient church’s magnificent vaulted ceilings.

The Adopt a Saint Germain Star™ Campaign: Donors can elect to make a $150 donation that will go directly to preserving the church’s strikingly beautiful celestial ceilings. Attribute a name to your donation and it will be reflected ongoingly in a publicly viewable interactive map of the stars.

• The church has stood for more than 1,000 years. Each donation will help it stand for 1,000 more — and your recipient’s name will be honored as part of the church’s saving grace for millennia to come.
• It’s the gift that lives on “forever!”
• This is not an idle gift. It goes directly towards the final push to complete this ancient church’s much-needed restoration — which is so close to completion, but needs public support to cross the finish line.
• The opportunity to adopt a star is ending, as there are fewer and fewer stars remaining to be sponsored. If you want to honor a friend, family member, loved one, colleague, or anyone else in your life with a once-in-a-lifetime gift, now is the time.

For those who wish to explore a greater role in the restoration of the church at Saint Germain des Prés, the American Friends also have a Major Gifts Program.

The Major Gift Program: Donors can specify the amount of the donation they wish to impart and dedicate their funds to a specific aspect of restoration. There is a catalog of individual projects within the whole that require funding.

About American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés: American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to fund the restoration of Paris' oldest church. The foundation works with its French counterparts at The Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés Foundation to garner donations in the pursuit of preserving history. Visit www.PreserveSaintGermain.org.

About David Sheppe: David Sheppe has enjoyed a long career in international banking and now works as a financial and risk management consultant. It was while living in Paris in the 1980s that he first took an interest in the church of Saint Germain des Prés, and he has been a frequent visitor ever since. From 2013 to 2016, he was once again a Paris resident, and it was then that he became acquainted with the work of the “Fonds de Dotation,” the Paris-based fundraising arm for renovating the church. Following his return to the US in 2016, David did volunteer work for the US-based American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés, before joining its board in 2017. He is now leading the charge on the current Adopt A Saint Germain Star™ Campaign in the United States. David is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell University. He resides in southwest Connecticut. For more information, visit www.PreserveSaintGermain.org.