October 12, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stacy Allsbrook, Las Vegas Centennial, 229-4733 or sallsbrook@lasvegasnevada.gov
Erica D. Johnson, R&R Partners, 318-4269 or ejohnson@rrpartners.com
Centennial license plates raise more than $1 million for
2005 Centennial celebration
- Specialty plates most popular in Nevada history -
Las Vegas, Nev. - Proceeds from the Centennial commemorative license plate sales have raised more than $1 million for the Centennial celebration, a yearlong party that will commemorate Las Vegas' 100th birthday throughout 2005, Stacy Allsbrook, executive director of the Centennial celebration, said.
"We couldn't be more pleased with the success of the Centennial plates," Allsbrook said. "Local residents are showing off their community pride while raising money for the biggest birthday bash the world has ever seen. That's a pretty awesome combination."
With a portion of each sale donated to the City of Las Vegas, the Department of Motor Vehicles reported that as of Sept. 1, sales of the specialty plate, with a design that features the famous "Welcome to Fabulous" Las Vegas sign, garnered $1,024,791.98 for the celebration. The money will be used to fund hundreds of events for the Centennial.
The numbers have secured the Centennial plate's standing as the most popular specialty plates in Nevada history. Since they were released in October 2002, plate sales have already surpassed those of the Lake Tahoe plate, which was issued in 1998 and, until recently, reigned as the most popular specialty plate in Nevada. As of Oct. 1, the DMV reported, there were 18,411 actively registered Lake Tahoe license plates on Vegas Valley roads and 31,875 actively registered Centennial plates.
Local residents still have time to purchase the popular plates. Though a state statute requires the DMV to stop selling the Centennial plates at the end of 2005, a bill requesting an extension has already been drafted and will come before the next Legislature in January, Allsbrook said. The money raised from the extension will fund designated Centennial Legacy projects after the Centennial year is over.
The idea of the Centennial plate came in 2001, when a private citizen's group in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Las Vegas class created the concept of a specialty plate as a fundraiser for the celebration. The plates, available only through the Department of Motor Vehicles, cost $61 in addition to standard registration fees. The Las Vegas Centennial receives $25 from the sale of each initial purchase and $20 for each renewal.
The money raised from the plates will help fund hundreds of Centennial events as Las Vegas celebrates its birthday with a yearlong birthday bash throughout 2005. Planned events include the rebirth of Las Vegas' historical Helldorado Days rodeo, City of 100 Murals, the World's Biggest Birthday Cake and the creation of a Centennial Time Capsule. Money from the license plate sales will also be used to fund the Centennial grant program, which will add additional projects held by educators and local non-profit groups throughout the Centennial year.
The Las Vegas Centennial is a yearlong celebration that will pay tribute to the exciting people, places and events that helped shape Las Vegas history since 110 acres was purchased near the first railroad in a land auction nearly a century ago. For more information on the Centennial celebration or for information on how to purchase a Centennial license plate, visit visit www.lasvegas2005.org or call 229-2005.
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