Win Wheels on Woodward, Fundraiser Promotes Historical & Cultural Significance of Southeast Michigan's Famed Woodward Avenue

(June 10, 2008) - The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) today launched its Win Wheels on Woodward (WWOW) summer fundraiser and raffle drawing for a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the WA3's Woodward Tribute program, an innovative, interpretive public art and tourism program.

"The WWOW fundraiser is an excellent representation of Woodward's businesses coming together to raise funds for the building of the Woodward tributes," said Heather Carmona, executive director of WA3. "The Tributes tell the Woodward Byway story in a unique way to local residents and thousands of annual visitors from the surrounding region and the world."

Tickets to enter the WWOW raffle drawing are available now through Sept. 1. The winner will be selected from a group of 20 finalists to be drawn at a special concert on the new Alley Deck at the Magic Stick in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 12. The final drawing for the grand prize will take place at a VIP reception and official unveiling event on Sept. 18 in Ferndale, near the site of the first Woodward Tribute installation at the corner of Woodward and Cambourne. Each $100 raffle ticket offers contestants a one in 1,000 chance of winning the grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. In addition, each ticket purchased provides admission to the VIP reception and official unveiling event, as well as a one-year membership to the WA3.

The grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, provided by Harold Kuhn of Park Motor Sales, is the world's first full-hybrid premium SUV, offering passengers a smooth, quiet ride with plenty of storage space. In addition to comfortable front bucket seating and 16" five-spoke aluminum wheels, the Mariner Hybrid features ice-blue interior lighting; a six-disc, in-dash CD changer with MP3 capabilities; and a three-tier storage management system with removable bins. Vehicle safety features include remote keyless entry, a passive anti-theft system, reverse sensing, roll stability control, and an intelligent passenger-sensing airbag deployment system.

About WWOW
Win Wheels on Woodward (WWOW) is a summer fundraiser sponsored by the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) to raise $50,000 to benefit the Woodward Avenue Tribute program, an innovative, interpretive public art and tourism program designed to raise awareness of the historical and cultural significance of locations along Woodward Avenue. The fundraiser will include a raffle drawing for a grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, entry to two special events and a one-year membership to the WA3. Finalists in the WWOW raffle drawing will be selected during a special concert at Detroit's Magic Stick and the grand prize winner will be chosen from the group of 20 finalists during a VIP reception and unveiling across from the first Woodward Tribute location in Ferndale.

To learn more about WWOW and WA3 (and to purchase tickets!), please visit www.woodwardavenue.org.

About the WWOW Committee
The WWOW Committee is comprised of several leaders in the southeast Michigan business community, including: Barry Boozan, vice president of commercial lending at Bank of Michigan; Harold Kuhn, owner of Park Motor Sales; John McQuiggin, branch manager at Paramount Bank; Norm Silk, owner of Blossoms of Birmingham; Elizabeth Twork, account supervisor at John Bailey & Associates Public Relations; and Joe Zainea, owner of the Majestic Theater Center.