2002 News

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2002 – On August 26 in New York City, World Wrestling Entertainment™ (WWE®), Weekly Reader, and the Participate America Foundation will kick-off a six-city tour for WWE®Superstars and elected officials to encourage Americans to become more active citizens. The event also signals the start of National Civic Participation Week, from September 11 to 17, when citizens from all walks of life will come together to celebrate democracy and civic participation in events across America.

New York State Governor George Pataki will team up with WWE®Superstars Kurt Angle®, Edge®, Brock Lesnar®, Bradshaw®, Mark Henry®and Stacy Keibler®; WWE®CEO Linda McMahon; and Participate America Foundation President Bob Hansan to kick-off the "Smackdown Your Vote!®Pledge to Participate Tour" on August 26, at Federal Hall on Wall Street at 10 a.m. During the event, citizens will have the opportunity to "Pledge to Participate," register to vote through WWE®'s "Smackdown Your Vote!®" initiative and sign a replica of the Constitution through the National Constitution Center’s "I Signed the Constitution" program to show their support for America. 

The Tour will encourage young people and all Americans to register and vote in 2002, renew their shared commitment to their country and Constitution by signing a replica Constitutional scroll, and urge Americans to "Pledge to Participate" by volunteering, communicating with elected officials, and contributing to worthy causes. Weekly Reader has pledged to promote volunteerism in its various publications and run a national essay contest with WWE®and Participate America later this fall.

After kicking off in New York City on August 26, the tour will travel to Minneapolis on Tuesday, September 10; Washington, DC on Thursday, September 12; Denver on Tuesday, September 17; Los Angeles on Monday, September 23, and Houston on Monday, September 30. For more information about individual tour events and other activities taking place in communities nationwide during National Civic Participation Week, visit www.ParticipateAmerica.org

Participate America Foundation (www.ParticipateAmerica.org) is a nonprofit, 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is to strengthen American democracy by organizing and coordinating civic participation activities nationwide during National Civic Participation Week, September 11-17.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Founded in July 2000, Smackdown Your Vote!™ is a partnership of non-partisan organizations encouraging young people to vote, including the Youth Vote Coalition, Project Vote Smart, the National Foundation of Women Legislators, National Association of Secretaries of State, California's Vote America, Close Up/First Vote, Freedom's Answer, Participate America, Rock The Vote and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. 

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Contacts:
Eric Welch, Participate America Foundation, 202- 955-3119
Gary Davis, World Wrestling Entertainment, 203-353-5066