DALLAS (AP) — A foundation to honor the Monuments Men treasure hunters who saved 5 million works of art during World War II says it is closing due to a lack of funds.
Robert Edsel established the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art in 2007. Edsel is a Dallas-based author who wrote “The Monuments Men,” which was made into a 2014 movie starring George Clooney.
He told The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that the foundation will stop operating at the end of October.
Edsel says documenting and sharing the group’s stories has cost more than $7 million over 10 years. The foundation raised half. Edsel, who made his money in oil and gas, paid the rest.
The 345 treasure hunters will be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal Thursday in Washington, D.C.
