STAMFORD CONN. September 12 2002–With more than 60 000 people signing the Constitution to show their support for America since late August the national "Smackdown Your Vote!® Pledge to Participate Tour" today made its third stop — in Washington D.C. — to help unveil the Freedom Quilt and participate in the Freedom Fair.

The six-city tour – sponsored by World Wrestling Entertainment® (WWE® ) Participate America Foundation and Weekly Reader — encourages Americans to become more active citizens. During the tour citizens are invited to sign a replica of the U.S. Constitution to show their support for America register to vote and sign up to be volunteer and be active in their community through Participate America Foundation’s "Pledge to Participate" program.

More than 60 000 people have signed the Constitution at tour events or on-line since the tour kicked off on August 26 in New York City at Federal Hall on Wall Street with New York State Governor George Pataki Participate American Foundation President Bob Hansan and WWE® Superstars The Rock® Kurt Angle® Edge® Bradshaw® Mark Henry® and Stacy Keibler® . The second Tour stop was at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday September 10 with WWE Superstars Kurt Angle and The Hurricane who were joined by Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer State Representative Tony Sertich and student leaders.

At today’s tour events WWE Superstar Maven U. S. Representative Cliff Stearns George Washington University President Joel Trachtenberg USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland and Participate America Foundation President Bob Hansan today joined George Washington University student leaders in unveiling the Freedom Quilt to kick-off a three-day Freedom Fair to celebrate National Civic Participation Week in Washington D.C. George Washington University students created the Freedom Quilt as a visual reminder of the diversity strength unity and freedom of expression that abounds at the University and throughout our country. The Quilt is in the form of a patchwork United States Flag and measures over 90 feet in length and 50 feet in width.

At the Freedom Fair that followed the Quilt unveiling Maven signed autographs for those people who renewed their shared commitment to their country and Constitution by signing a replica Constitutional scroll made a commitment to "Pledge To Participate" by volunteering communicating with elected officials and contributing to worthy causes or registered to vote in the 2002 elections.

"As part of National Civic Participation Week Americans all across the country are undertaking projects to better their democracy and their communities " said Maven. "That’s a good sign that Americans will take stock of the tragedy of September 11th and turn it into something that will make us stronger as a nation.

"Yesterday we as Americans stood united as we mourned again the tragic loss of life that occurred when terrorists attacked against our country. Today we stand united to make a difference for America and all Americans."

The Smackdown Your Vote!® Pledge To Participate Tour next travels to Denver on Tuesday September 17 to celebrate the birthday of the U.S Constitution. The Tour’s final stops are in Los Angeles on Monday September 23 and Houston on Monday September 30. Later in the fall Weekly Reader plans to promote volunteerism in its various publications and run a national essay contest with WWE® and Participate America later this fall.

If you are unable to attend one of the Tour events you can show your support for America by signing a Constitution on-line at wwe.com or smackdownyourvote.com.

To "Pledge To Participate" on-line or 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. Information on the Smackdown Your Vote program can be found at smackdownyourvote.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