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WTC museum reaches fundraising goal

Associated Press

The World Trade Center museum and memorial complex has reached its private fundraising goal of $350 million, its board of directors announced Wednesday.

"We reached our first fundraising goal because of the support from people across the country and around the world who recognize the importance of building the September 11 Memorial and Museum," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the museum's chairman.

The memorial complex will open in 2011, the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It will be built with state and federal grants besides private funds. Total construction costs will be $610 million.

Cantor Fitzgerald, the financial services firm that lost 658 employees in the attack on the trade center, the most of any company, made the most recent donation, $10 million.

"In the spirit of the rebirth of Cantor, and to honor our colleagues and all those who lost their lives on that tragic day, we are privileged to provide this gift to help realize the dream of building our country's national 9/11 memorial," Cantor chief executive officer Howard Lutnick said.

The museum board held its quarterly meeting Wednesday and announced the election of three new members: David Beamer, father of United Airlines Flight 93 victim Todd Beamer; Walt Disney Co.

CEO Robert Iger, and Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal. Bank of New York Mellon president Gerald Hassell was elected at the board's January meeting.