New Orleans — The National Coast Guard Museum Association received its largest contribution from an individual donor in their effort to raise $100 million to build a National Coast Guard museum in downtown New London.

Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, the former chairman and CEO of Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards Inc., which builds various types of Coast Guard cutters, donated $1 million, according to Wes Pulver, executive director of the museum association.

Members of the museum association are in New Orleans this week to meet with donors and for other fundraising-related events.

At this point, the museum association has received more than $30 million in support, according to Pulver.

Bollinger is now the chairman and chief executive officer of Bollinger Enterprises. Bollinger also donated the largest single gift ever received by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. He donated $20 million to the museum in March.

Members of the Coast Guard Museum Association recognized Bollinger for his donation Wednesday evening during a reception in New Orleans.

They also honored their chairman James Coleman Jr., a New Orleans native who's been involved with the museum project for about 15 years.

Coleman was presented with the Alexander Hamilton Public Service Award, an award the museum association intends to give annually to someone who demonstrates "leadership, support and vision to make the museum a reality," Pulver said.

Coleman secured a big win for the museum association in January when he purchased Union Station for $3 million on its behalf.