FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
BALD EAGLE LICENSE PLATE APPROVED BY TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE;
PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT AMERICAN EAGLE FOUNDATION
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--The non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF),
headquartered at Dollywood, announced today approval of Tennessee
State legislation (Bill No. 1303) for the development of a vehicle
license plate honoring the Bald Eagle, our nation‚s Freedom
symbol.
A portion
of the proceeds from the sale of the new plate will benefit the
AEF.
The special plate will feature the image of Challenger, Tennessee‚s
nationally famous Bald Eagle that has flown during the National Anthem
at numerous major league baseball and football games, including the
World Series and Pro Bowl. Challenger is the first Bald Eagle
in U.S. history trained to free-fly at major sports stadiums and
high-profile public events. The 15-year old bird is cared for by
the AEF and used for educational purposes.
"We appreciate the State of Tennessee working with us to develop
this special license plate," said Al Cecere, AEF President. "This
is just one more way we can promote the cause of protecting the Bald
Eagle and continue our efforts to increase its population in the
wild."
Fifty percent of the proceeds from each eagle license plate sale
will benefit the AEF. The specialty plate will cost $35; a personalized
version is $70. Advance sales of 1,000 plates by the AEF are required
before production and state-wide distribution in local county clerk
offices can begin.
As a special offer, the AEF will give the first 500 plate buyers
a signed and numbered limited edition eagle print valued at $100.
One of the first 1,000 plate buyers will be chosen by the AEF to
receive an educational visit by Challenger, the Bald Eagle, to their
home or business.
Tennessee wildlife/nature artist Spencer Williams, an AEF board member, has
been commissioned to paint Challenger‚s image for the plate.
Laprees Advertising & Design of Sevierville has created the graphic
layout.
The plates can be ordered by visiting the AEF's WWW.EAGLES.ORG website
or calling 865-429-0157.
The non-profit American Eagle Foundation is federally licensed to
provide care to more than 65 birds of prey daily, including about
35 eagles. These birds are non-releasable due to permanent physical
disabilities or accidental imprinting on humans. Many of the non-releasable
eagles residing at the Foundation‚s facility have successfully
reproduced while in captivity. The organization operates the world‚s
largest Bald Eagle breeding facility and has released dozens of captive-hatched
eaglets into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains area. They
have also been a party to releasing hundreds of other eaglets into
the wilds of Tennessee in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The AEF supports
numerous public education and eagle recovery and protection projects
in various states.
For more information contact Al Cecere at 865-429-0157 (office), 865-256-0372
(cellular), eaglemail@eagles.org
or eaglemail@eagles.org or
Pete Owens, Dollywood Public Relations Manager at: 865-428-9486.
Wildlife/nature artist Spencer Williams captures the majestic image
of a patient, trained Bald Eagle named Challenger for a new State
of Tennessee eagle license plate benefiting the nation's
Freedom symbol and the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF)
headquartered at Dollywood.
The
specialty eagle plate will cost $35; $70 for a personalized version.
As a special offer, the AEF will give the first 500 plate buyers
a free signed and numbered limited edition eagle print valued at $100.
One
of the first 1,000 plate buyers will be chosen by the AEF to receive
an educational visit by Challenger, the Bald Eagle, to their home
or business. Advance sales of 1,000 new plates are required before
production and state-wide distribution in local county clerk offices
can begin.
The
plates can be ordered online from our secure server or by calling
865-429-0157.
Photo by Al Cecere, American Eagle Foundation.
