OLYMPIA— A reminder that the Association of Washington Business will help mark the start of the holiday season in Olympia this Friday with a tree-lighting ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. The event is part of AWB’s annual Holiday Kids’ Tree Project, which raises money for rural families in need. Since 1989, AWB and its members have contributed more than $300,000 to rural fire districts, which use the funds to purchase toys and food. Donations this year have already surpassed $19,000. For more on the history of the project, view our timeline and our fact sheet.

AGENDA
         

                   WHO:            Association of Washington Business

                   WHAT:          Holiday Kids’ Tree Project Tree Lighting Ceremony

                   WHERE:        Washington State Capitol Rotunda
                                              Legislative Building
                                              Olympia
       
                    WHEN:           Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
                                             6 p.m.
                                               • Official start time
 
                                             6:05 p.m.
                                               • Musical selections from Kids in Koncert/Capital Playhouse
            
                                             6:12 p.m.
                                              • Appreciation of the project

                                              6:20 p.m.
                                               • Musical selections, continued
  
                                              6:27 p.m.
                                               • Tree lighting with Gov. Gregoire and Army Sgt. Kevin Barretta

                                                  along with his wife, Amanda, and children, Madison 
                                                  and Abigail. Sgt. Barretta is a member of the Army’s 2nd
                                                  Brigade Stryker Combat Team stationed at Joint Base
                                                  Lewis-McChord and just returned from a year-long
                                                  deployment to Afghanistan.

                                             6:35 p.m.
                                              • Santa arrives!
                                              • Santa’s elves this year are 5-year olds Mikaela Lawrence and
                                                 Julia Delgadillo, both from Vancouver. Mikaela’s parents are 
                                                 Rodney and Erin Lawrence; Julia’s parents are Estaban and
                                                 Jennifer Delgadillo.


About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,100+ members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.