March 5, 2024

I want to personally thank everyone who has supported the museum and continues to do so. Your financial contributions, art or toy donations, suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated and needed. The intent is to create and continue to evolve into a museum that showcases the legacies of the people who have worked in animation art. 

Since the pandemic the museum has struggled to find an affordable permanent location close to New York City to display all the animation art and memorabilia that it owns and properly support education for the arts. In early 2022, an opportunity arose when a local museum had to close due to the death of the owner. I had known the owner and his children for more than 30 years. I had often discussed with the owner that if he had ever considered selling his property to please let me know as I was very interested. After his death, the heirs decided to sell the building, and this required them to deaccession the vast contents of the museum. They understandably needed time. I reiterated my sincere interest, and they were aware. 

In November of 2022, the heirs said that they still needed some time and promised that weren’t going to do anything until early 2023. They would be in touch. I wanted to be respectful and give the family the time they needed to grieve and resolve the owner’s estate. In March 2023, I reached out to one of the heirs with a simple, “Hi, hope that all is well. Please don’t forget about me.”  After no text response, I followed up with an email. At this time, I was told that they had already made the sale to someone else. I recall reading the email and trembling. I felt so many emotions, primarily because we had such a long personal history, that I felt incredibly hurt and disappointed. Yet another setback for the museum. As is my nature, I prefer to optimistically continue to believe that another, and possibly better, opportunity will arise. 

As of this writing, the museum’s board of directors is still actively looking for that place and seeking investors and/or philanthropists who understand and believe in the EPPIC (Education, Preservation, Philanthropy, Inspiration and Creativity) mission that the museum has and would like to help us achieve this. If you can help, please reach out to us at nymaamny@gmail.com. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Thank you in advance for your support. 

Sincerely, 

Greg