WORLD WAR II THEATRE INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

A11

Classification

1000

Street

1 RAVINIA DR STE 1600

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2023

• SINCE ITS OPENING IN OCTOBER 2019, THE HIGGINS HAS SUPPORTED THE MUSEUM'S NONPROFIT MISSION IN A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT WAYS AND REMAINS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF ITS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. SPECIFICALLY, THE HIGGINS PROVIDES SPACE TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S EXPANDING SLATE OF VISITOR ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; SERVES THE MUSEUM'S NATIONAL VISITORS - 87% WHO COME FROM OUT OF STATE - WITH ON CAMPUS LODGING TO FIT THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND SCHEDULES; ENSURES AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AT DISCOUNTED PRICES FOR MUSEUM DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS YEAR-ROUND; CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS AND SHARE ITS COLLECTION; AND RAISES ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S MISSION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) SOME NOTABLE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES HOSTED AT THE HIGGINS HOTEL DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY ANNUAL CONVENTION FROM OCTOBER 31 NOVEMBER 4, 2023, THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM HOSTED THE 2023 CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY CONVENTION IN NEW ORLEANS. THE HIGGINS HOTEL PARTICIPATED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE CONVENTION HOSTING THE SOCIETY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND THE SOCIETY PRESIDENT'S OPENING BREAKFAST. THE HOTEL ALSO PROVIDED THE PATRIOT CIRCLE LOUNGE AS A PRIVATE SPACE FOR THE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AS WELL AS A MEDICAL SUITE SHOULD RECIPIENTS OR THEIR GUESTS NEED ATTENTION. IN TOTAL, 42 RECIPIENTS ATTENDED THE 2023 CONVENTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM AND THE HIGGINS HOSTED NEARLY 130 OF THE RECIPIENTS' CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAKING THIS THE LARGEST CONVENTION IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THE WEEK COMPRISED EIGHT OFFICIAL CONVENTION EVENTS, OVER A DOZEN OPTIONAL, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, THREE VETERAN-ORIENTED COMMUNITY PANELS, SIX SCHOOL VISITS, AND ONE PARADE NONE OF WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HOSPITALITY OF THE HIGGINS HOTEL AND SPONSORSHIP OF THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM. THE 16TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WORLD WAR II THE JENNY CRAIG INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR & DEMOCRACY EXECUTED THE 16TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WORLD WAR II IN THE MADLYN AND PAUL HILLIARD CONFERENCE CENTER AT THE HIGGINS HOTEL FROM DECEMBER 7 9, 2023. THE HOTEL HOSTED OVER 300 GUESTS AND 40 HISTORIANS WHO ENGAGED IN LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TOPICS RANGING FROM PEARL HARBOR TO THE ROLE OF WOMEN DURING THE WAR TO THE MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST IN EASTERN EUROPE. THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH AUTHORS AND MUSEUM STAFF SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT HISTORY TO LIFE AND EMPHASIZED THE AMERICAN STORY AND LEGACY OF WORLD WAR II. EACH YEAR, INTEREST IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE GROWS, AND IT CONTINUES TO REACH YOUNGER AUDIENCES. THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 20 STUDENTS FROM HOLY CROSS, A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, ATTENDED THE FRIDAY MORNING SESSIONS. FURTHERMORE, STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY ATTENDED WITH THEIR PROFESSORS. IN ADDITION TO THE SOLD OUT CROWD WITH OVER 350 IN-PERSON ATTENDEES, THE CONFERENCE SESSIONS HAD A TOTAL OF 12,500 LIVE VIEWS AND SINCE THEN HAVE BEEN VIEWED 160,000 TIMES. SOARING VALORTHROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE HIGGINS HOSTED SOARING VALOR GROUP VISITS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL WWII VETERAN VISITS, ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WWII VETERANS, THEIR GUARDIANS, AND STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO VISIT THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM AND STAY AT THE HIGGINS HOTEL FOR 2 NIGHTS. MY GAL SAL DESCENDANT MUSTERIN SEPTEMBER 2023, APPROXIMATELY 110 FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF "MY GAL SAL," A B-17E FLYING FORTRESS THAT HAD TO BE ABANDONED IN GREENLAND IN JUNE 1942, STAYED AT THE HIGGINS SO THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THIS RESTORED PLANE THAT HANGS IN THE MUSEUM'S US FREEDOM PAVILION: THE BOEING CENTER. DURING THEIR STAY, THEY HAD A HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THE HIGGINS AND GATHERED FOR A DINNER IN THE ARCADIA BALLROOM. THEY ALSO TOOK PART IN A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF ARTIFACTS AT THE MUSEUM. WARTIME PIANO HAPPY HOURTOGETHER WITH THE MUSEUM'S ENTERTAINMENT AND SALES DEPARTMENTS, THE HIGGINS HOTEL CONTINUES TO HOST WARTIME PIANO HAPPY HOURS IN THE PATRIOTS CIRCLE LOUNGE. THE MUSEUM'S SALES TEAM AND HOTEL'S CONCIERGES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE AND HOPE TO CONTINUE GENERATING A GROWING INTEREST IN THE SHOW. LOUISIANA HISTORY DAY STATE COMPETITION & SUMMER TEACHER WORKSHOPEACH YEAR, THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION TEAM SERVE AS THE STATE-WIDE COORDINATOR FOR NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO RESEARCH A HISTORICAL TOPIC IN LINE WITH THAT YEAR'S THEME AND CREATE A PROJECT THAT BEST SUITS THEIR TALENTS AND INTERESTS. THE STATE COMPETITION IS HELD AT THE MUSEUM EACH YEAR IN APRIL FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON APRIL 13, 2024, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED 39 EXTERNAL JUDGES, 194 STUDENTS, AND DOZENS OF SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND FAMILIES TO CAMPUS FOR LOUISIANA HISTORY DAY. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, STUDENTS EXPLORED THE MUSEUM AS THEY WAITED FOR THEIR ASSIGNED TIME TO PRESENT THEIR PROJECT. THOSE IN THE SENIOR GROUP AND SENIOR INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITS CATEGORY SPENT MOST OF THEIR DAY AT THE HIGGINS HOTEL AS THEY PRESENTED IN THE CHARTWELL AND RED CROSS ROOMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HIGGINS SERVED AS A PLACE OF RESPITE WHERE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES COULD GET BREAKFAST AND PRACTICE FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS. OF THE 194 STUDENTS WHO ENTERED, 58 ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL COMPETITION, THE MUSEUM TEAM INVITED 12 LOUISIANA-BASED EDUCATORS TO THE HOTEL FROM JUNE 25 29, 2024, TO LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF HISTORY DAY. EACH TEACHER LEFT WITH THE TOOLS AND NETWORK TO HELP THEM IMPLEMENT THE HISTORY DAY MODEL IN THEIR CLASSROOM. BILLY MICHAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDSTHE 2024 BILLY MICHAEL STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS TOOK PLACE FROM MAY 23 26, 2024. THROUGH THE BILLY MICHAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD, THE MUSEUM PROMOTES THE VALUES OF SIX-YEAR-OLD BILLY MICHAL, A NOTEWORTHY SCRAP METAL COLLECTOR DURING WORLD WAR II, AND RECOGNIZES A STUDENT FROM EACH STATE AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO EXEMPLIFY THESE SAME VALUES. THIS YEAR, THESE STUDENTS SPENT TIME AT THE HIGGINS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER ENGAGING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND PREPARING FOR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON NEW ORLEANS, THE MUSEUM BROUGHT STUDENTS TO LH MARRERO MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BUILD AN OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE WITH RAISED BED GARDENS AND SEATING AREAS. NOT ONLY DID THE HOTEL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE OUTLETS, BUT THE STAFF SUPPORTED ALL NEEDS FROM THE GUESTS AND MUSEUM TEAM. THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY THE HIGGINS HOTEL, THE MUSEUM, AND SEVERAL OTHER DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, CELEBRATED THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY AND SUBSEQUENT LIBERATION OF FRANCE. ON CAMPUS, THE MUSEUM HOSTED THE ANNUAL D-DAY COMMEMORATION CEREMONY WHILE ALSO ACTIVATING THE CAMPUS IN INNOVATIVE WAYS AND ORGANIZING A FULL DAY SYMPOSIUM.AT THE HIGGINS, HOTEL STAFF ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR EXPERIENCE THE VICTORY GUESTS AND A SPECIAL GROUP OF WWII VETERANS VISITING. WHILE BOTH GROUPS ENJOYED THE FESTIVITIES ON THE MUSEUM'S CAMPUS, THEY SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ENJOYING PLANNED PROGRAMMING AT THE HOTEL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXPERIENCE THE VICTORY GUESTS RECEIVED A SPECIAL LECTURE IN THE PATRIOT CIRCLE LOUNGE FROM THE JENNY CRAIG INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR AND DEMOCRACY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HIGGINS LANDING CRAFT DURING THE WAR AND THE HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM. IN ADDITION TO THE ETV EXPERIENCES, THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION ARRANGED FOR THREE WWII VETERANS TO TRAVEL AND STAY AT THE HIGGINS SO THAT THEY COULD BE HONORED AT THE WEEK'S EVENTS. AFTER THE COMMEMORATION CEREMONY ON JUNE 6, THE THREE WWII VETERANS JOINED THE OTHERS WHO HAD BEEN HONORED AT THE COMMEMORATION CEREMONY FOR A CELEBRATORY LUNCH AT CAFE NORMANDIE.

  Expenses $20,519,503 · Revenue $14,341,777

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

• STEPHEN WATSON

  PRESIDENT & CEO

  Total calculated

  $827,413

  From this org

  $0

  From related orgs

  $725,090

  Other

  $102,323

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 50.7 related

  Schedule J breakdown matched by us

  Base

  $0 + $563,859 related

  Bonus

  $0 + $130,778 related

  Other

  $0 + $30,453 related

  Deferred

  $0 + $84,150 related

  Nontaxable benefits

  $0 + $18,173 related

  Filer's total

  $0 + $827,413 related

• BRANDON BERGER

  CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1 + 2 related

• JAMES MAURIN

  CO-VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 4.7 related

• RICH PATTAROZZI

  CO-VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• NORMA GRACE

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• JOHN KOERNER

  SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 2.7 related

• DONALD BOYSIE BOLLINGER

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 2 related

• HAROLD BOUILLION

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• JOHN GEORGES

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 4 related

• TODD MCDONALD

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• DAVE SHERMAN

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• CATHY GREEN ROSENSTEIN

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $389,926

  From this org

  $0

  From related orgs

  $374,411

  Other

  $15,515

  Hours/week

  0.5 + 50.7 related

  Schedule J breakdown matched by us

  Base

  $0 + $290,493 related

  Bonus

  $0 + $52,500 related

  Other

  $0 + $31,418 related

  Deferred

  $0 + $8,891 related

  Nontaxable benefits

  $0 + $6,624 related

  Filer's total

  $0 + $389,926 related

• NICK MUELLER

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• DEROME S PROCTOR

  HIGHEST COMPENSATED EMPLOY

  Total calculated

  $119,453

  From this org

  $106,399

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $13,054

  Hours/week

  40

• REBECCA ALBRECHT MACKIE

  EXECUTIVE VP & COO (RESIGNED 7/31/23)

  Total calculated

  $548,842

  From this org

  $0

  From related orgs

  $511,776

  Other

  $37,066

  Hours/week

  0 + 50 related

  Schedule J breakdown matched by us

  Base

  $0 + $373,755 related

  Bonus

  $0

  Other

  $0 + $138,021 related

  Deferred

  $0 + $29,699 related

  Nontaxable benefits

  $0 + $7,367 related

  Filer's total

  $0 + $548,842 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2023

  Revenue

  $20,537,615

  Expenses

  $21,200,093

  Contributions

  $481,250

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $22,443,534

  Expenses

  $21,789,054

  Contributions

  $1,112,100

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2024 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $20,417,556

  Expenses

  $17,912,388

  Assets (EOY)

  $73,912,581

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $7,985,731

  Expenses

  $12,683,203

  Assets (EOY)

  $71,080,444

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $5,409,785

  Expenses

  $10,829,793

  Assets (EOY)

  $69,937,472

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,280

  Expenses

  $719,182

  Assets (EOY)

  $57,944,050

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $42,558

  Expenses

  $33,325

  Assets (EOY)

  $16,632,537

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

No itemized grant names this organization as a recipient. Only grants over $5,000 are itemized, and only by filers of the full Form 990.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Other IRS files