Hanks, Spielberg lead campaign to save Hollywood sign
By IANSSunday, April 25, 2010
LONDON - Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg have stepped up efforts to save the Hollywood sign from being torn down.
They are leading a campaign to purchase the 138 acres of land on which the nine iconic 45ft-high letters have stood since 1923.
The duo was granted an extension to a deadline earlier this month to raise $12million and warned if they fail there will be no further extension to rescue one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions, reports express.co.uk.
Owner Fox River Financial Services, based in Geneva, Illinois, said it will have “no option” but to sell the land to a property developer after April 30 if Hanks, Spielberg and conservationists can’t come up with the cash.
Will Rogers, president of Trust for Public Lands, a non-profit nature conservation group, which is working with the stars to save the site, said: “We are agonisingly close to our purchase target with a little over $1million left to go”.
