The Fondation invites businesses to offer their patronship, entering into a close business partnership.

As testament to its dedication to the Fondation's cause, TOTAL signed a patronship agreement for 3 years in December 2005 (2006-2008). In this agreement, TOTAL committed itself to making a contribution of around 8 million euros over this period, to go towards the financing of preservation and development of pieces of national heritage. The projects to receive this funding will be those involving industrial and artisanal heritage as well as ancient buildings of cultural or tourist interest. This step is part of Total's patronship policy in the Heritage, Solidarity and Environment domains. This demonstrates the willingness of the Group to contribute to cultural life in the areas where it is established, as well as providing employment, directly or indirectly.

Keen to become more involved locally in the regions where it is represented, Lafarge Granulats signed, on the 18^th October 2006, a significant patronship agreement (2006-2010) with the Fondation. Aware of the challenges entailed in long-term development, Lafarge Granulats and the Fondation du Patrimoine decided to focus their approach on the preservation of local heritage, long-term resource management and the spreading of awareness of these matters.

A three-year agreement was signed between the Fondation du Patrimoine, the Fondation d'entreprise VEOLIA Environnement and the Fédération des parcs naturels régionaux de France. In keeping with this agreement, the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Fondation VEOLIA Environnement, will contribute over three years to a common fund that will be directed towards the restoration of water heritage, public or private, situated within regional nature parks.

In 2003, Hermès signed up with the Fondation du Patrimoine to invest in a project in the Dordogne; preserving and developing local heritage in Périgord vert. Naturally the project came to focus on the Nontron region, where in the workshops specialising in morocco-leather, porcelain and ties, the expertise that is so deeply rooted in these various trades is carried out.

At the 2006 French Mayor Convention, the Fondation du Patrimoine launched the prix du Mécénat Populaire (The Individual patron prize), worth a total of 10 000 euros, funded by DEXIA Crédit Local. This prize, created in 2005, rewards public maître(s) d'ouvrage * who have carried out exemplary work in raising public funds in aid of local heritage preservation.

This year, prizes were awarded to three public fund raisers.

The Mesnil-Ozenne commune in the Manche was awarded first prize and won 4 000 euros for its restoration project. The granite flagstones, remarkable woodwork and lime plastering on the interior walls helped give the building a complete facelift.

The second and third prizes, of 3 000 euros each, were awarded to the communes of Combrit (Finistère) for the complete restoration of the Abri du Marin in Sainte-Marine, and Blond (Haute-Vienne) for the brickwork, carpentry and roofing work on its church.

Les Mousquetaires joined the Fondation du Patrimoine in support of local heritage.

Conscious of the citizens' responsibility towards the environment, the Mousquetaires group helps preserve our local heritage that represents a link of solidarity between the generations.

Through their donations, Les Mousquetaires have supported the public subsidies awarded by the Fondation du Patrimoine in aid of five buildings. The first projects were based in the Loiret département, the others in the Côte d'Or, Creuse and Bas-Rhin.

The Mousquetaires group and the Fondation du Patrimoine were lucky enough to be able to display the restoration and development of buildings or furniture in the Loiret in a photographic exhibition that was held in the Galeries Marchandes at the end of 2006.