FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            PRESS RELEASE # 2001-69

SUBJECT:     State Governors to Receive and Distribute Airline Tickets as Part of National

Campaign to Help Restore New York Economy

CONTACT:    Mitch Goldstone, Cofounder, EPICC, (949) 474-7654, info@epiccusa.com

                        Heather Morris, Public Information Office, City of Irvine, (949) 724-6252                  

IRVINE, CA —As part of the Irvine-led national challenge to help encourage travel and revive the New York economy, all 50 United States Governors will receive two Delta Air Lines tickets to present to a citizen best representing the spirit of recovery in their state. The recipient and their guest will use the tickets to join other citizens from around the nation in New York over Veterans Day weekend, November 9 – 12, 2001. The tickets are compliments of Delta Air Lines as part of its “Delta Loves New York campaign.

What began as a local, grassroots display of economic patriotism has gone national in a very big way.  Through Project EPICC (Economic Patriotism in Irvine and Coast to Coast), the City of Irvine, CA and the Irvine Chamber of Commerce are urging citizens across the country to meet in New York City during Veteran's Day Weekend (Nov. 9 - 12) for the purpose of:

·        Restoring confidence in air travel

·        Encouraging a vibrant economy in the beleaguered New York City area

·        Uniting thousands of citizens from across the U.S. cities to watch the Veteran’s Day

Parade

·        Honoring victims on the two-month anniversary of the September 11 attack 

EPICC was co-founded by Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Chris Mears and Mitch Goldstone, a city commissioner as an outgrowth of their attempts to organize a committee of business, political and community leaders to help restore confidence in air travel and encourage commerce in NYC.

According to Mears, "Our goal with EPICC is to share our compassion and assemble citizens representing the rich diversity of our nation, including families, business, political and religious leaders, seniors and Muslim-Americans."

In endorsing Project EPICC, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran said, "We are proud to lend the City's unanimous support to EPICC.  This affirms our solidarity for achieving physical and economic security. Irvine is a great American city.  Our hope is to inspire hundreds of other great American cities and thousands of patriotic Americans to literally and figuratively ''get on board to NY, ''

Thanks to the support of Delta Air Lines, a comprehensive Delta Vacations air and hotel travel package is available. For reservations and travel package information, call toll-free 1-800-423-TRIP.

For more information about EPICC, contact Mitch Goldstone, EPICC co-sponsor, at (949) 474-7654 or info@epiccusa.com, or visit the EPICC Web site at www.epiccusa.com.

 Media Note: Interviews are available with Irvine Mayor Pro Tem, Chris Mears and/or Mitch Goldstone, President of 30 Minute Photos Etc., by contacting Ralph Rodheim, Rodheim Marketing, (800) 576-5101.

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