National Park Foundation and National Park Service Present 85th Anniversary of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree

WASHINGTON (Map) - Support for the Event Provided by the National Park Foundation, National Park Service, General Electric Consumer and Industrial and Underwriters Laboratories

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation today celebrated the opening ceremony of the 85th Anniversary of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree, a tradition begun in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in President's Park on behalf of all Americans. Presented by the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), with support from GE Consumer and Industrial and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the event featured music and dancing from nationally known performers and a special holiday message from the President of the United States.

"As the national charitable partner of America's National Parks, the National Park Foundation is proud to join with the National Park Service for the 85th Anniversary of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree and its opening ceremony," said National Park Foundation President and CEO Vin Cipolla. "This wonderful event is made possible with support from event sponsor Underwriters Laboratories and GE Consumer and Industrial. As we celebrate a great tradition, we are also creating history with a new Santa's Workshop, the most energy efficient tree display we have ever had and a new website dedicated to the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree at www.THENATIONALTREE.org."

Mary Bomar, Director of the National Park Service said, "The National Christmas Tree unites us all, no matter what our beliefs, just as national parks unite us all as Americans, regardless of our origins. What better place to light the Tree than at President's Park, one of the 391 sites cared for by the National Park Service?"

This year's lineup for the 85th Anniversary of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree offered a diverse program of onstage performers. The "Christmas Pathway of Peace," including the National Christmas Tree and 56 smaller trees--one for each state, five territories and the District of Columbia--served as the event focal point. Following the celebration, throughout the month of December, the public can continue to enjoy musical and dance entertainment, the "Christmas Pathway of Peace" and Santa's Workshop. For more information about these performances the public can visit a new website, www.THENATIONALTREE.org and also, learn about the holiday history of the National Christmas Tree, discover safe and eco-friendly tips for lighting their own trees, preview ornaments specially designed to celebrate all U.S. states and territories, decorate and share their own Christmas Trees for America, and view footage of the 85th Anniversary of the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree.

For the first time in the event's history, this year's display includes a Santa's Workshop complete with a retrospective display that will present colorful facts in the Tree Lighting's history. This will be part of the Christmas Pathway of Peace. At the Workshop, children will be able to have their photo taken with Santa and see his elves busy making toys. The workshop was created by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) who will also be providing useful tips for holiday home safety.

"Helping consumers make smart, safe choices by educating them on the importance of home safety is UL's gift to everyone this holiday season," said John Drengenberg, manager, Consumer Affairs, UL. "Simply by looking for the UL Mark on electrical products, they can be confident that those products have been tested and certified."

For the 46th consecutive year, GE Consumer and Industrial has contributed to the design and lighting of the National Christmas Tree display. This year's Tree is the most energy efficient in the history of the event. Powered almost entirely by light emitting computer chips called LEDs, the 2008 National Christmas Tree display is 50 percent more energy efficient than the 2007 display.

"LEDs have become the cool, new, green technology in lighting, and with good reason," said Kathy Presciano, designer of the National Christmas Tree and lighting designer for GE. "They use a fraction of the energy, and they last 10 times as long as a traditional incandescent light. They worked so well for last year's National Tree, this year we decided to expand them to the state trees, too," Presciano said.

About the National Park Foundation The National Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to continue a century-long tradition of private philanthropy ensuring funding to preserve and enhance the legacy of our National Parks. As the official national non-profit partner of America's National Parks, the National Park Foundation does not receive federal appropriations for their support. In 2007, the Foundation had its best fundraising year ever bringing in $43 million dollars in support. The National Park Foundation serves to strengthen the connection between the American people and their national parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Support of the National Park Foundation ensures that the evolving history and rich heritage of our nation remains vital and relevant.