Folks, I'm pretty familiar with both the OLYMPIA and the Philly Seaport where she has been berthed since about 1996. In fact, all my kids have been there on various school or group trips over the years, and I have helped with various fund-raising activities/events myself. I spoke with someone there to ask about this activity in TV and learned that it is NOT anything that they have organized or authorized directly. However, they said that they have come to learn of several grass roots efforts around the country, one in particular in Olympia, WA, that have sprung up to try and support the Seaport's rehab of the vessel. This one, however, sounded a bit fishy even by those standards.
Bottom Line: Don't give unless you know beyond a doubt who the organization is (VFW, Am. Leg., Local Fire/EMS, etc.). And, if any industrious Villager happens to snap a pic of these folks at Publix or anywhere else, shoot me a PM and I will have you send me the photo to pass along to the Seaport staff. I gave them all the website and toll-free number info and they were quite intrigued!
