The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, has announced a gift of nearly $10 million from the Sunderland Foundation in support of renovations to the main gallery, public spaces, and courtyard.

The gift will support enhancements critical to the post-COVID-19 environment, including touch-free video screens and interactive exhibits, as well as improved viewing accessibility of the trench experience, better navigation to improve crowd flow, and improved functionality of the open storage and educational areas.

A longtime supporter of the museum, the foundation has previously helped fund restoration of the Reflecting Pool, construction of the Wiley Gallery, and renovation of the Memorial Tower elevator in 2018. Paul Sunderland, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 107, served in the Navy aboard the USS Charleston as a mechanic and Musician First Class with a saxophone that accompanied him through seven trans-Atlantic trips.

"My grandfather, Paul Sunderland, recognized the importance of remembering the sacrifices and lessons of the first World War," said Kent Sunderland, chair of the Sunderland Foundation and a former board trustee of the museum. "The updates being made to the Museum and Memorial will ensure that the stories of the Great War are told for generations to come. It is a meaningful way for our family to honor my grandfather."