Washington Quarter Launches Today at Seattle Center�s Fisher Pavilion

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2007

Be one of the first to get the only quarter to be �100% Washington!�

SEATTLE � At a special event today at Seattle Center�s Fisher Pavilion, Governor Chris Gregoire, United States Mint Director Ed Moy and members of the Washington Quarter Advisory Commission will launch Washington�s new quarter. The event is free and open to the public.

�With our country�s first president on one side and symbols of Washington�s history and scenic landscape on the other, these quarters will be 100% Washington,� said Governor Chris Gregoire.

Christine Chen, host of About the Money with Christine Chen on KCTS-9, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the program. The official ceremony will include a presentation of the Washington quarter to Governor Chris Gregoire, tribal blessings by the Suquamish Tribe and the Yakama Nation, a performance by the Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Trio and the presentation of the colors by the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard. Congressman Jim McDermott, Seattle Seahawks quarterback David Greene and the Seattle Mariners Moose will attend the event.

Following the ceremony, school-aged children will be able to receive one free newly minted Washington quarter. The general public will have the opportunity to exchange cash for $10 rolls of Washington quarters, provided by the official bank of the quarter launch, Bank of America.

With hundreds of children and their parents expected, the celebration offers a variety of entertainment including a Kids Fun Zone with activities and games, Peter the U.S. Mint Eagle and a live performance of Biz Kid$, a new PBS program.

Bank of America is the Bank of the Washington Quarter Launch
Wednesday, April 11
2:00 p.m. � 5:00 p.m.
Ceremony begins at 3:00 p.m.
Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center

The new quarter design � a salmon breaching the water with Mount Rainier in the background � was recommended by the Washington Quarter Advisory Commission to Governor Gregoire after it led an online public poll.

Mount Rainier is an internationally recognized icon for Washington and acts as a symbolic bridge between the eastern and western parts of our state. Salmon are an image of northwest culture and have nourished the people of this area for thousands of years. They are representative of the native heritage of our region.

April is also Financial Literacy Month. Many of the Kids Fun Zone activities are centered on this theme in an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of obtaining skills in managing finances.

Event Contributors:

• Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
• Washington Department of Financial Institutions
• Seattle�s Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Rockey Hill & Knowlton
• Washington State Lottery
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
• Washington Jump$tart
• Pacific Science Center
• Children�s Museum

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