August 11, 2003

More than 53,000 Michigan motorists have donated over $1.1 million to assist U.S. Olympic athletes as they "Go for the Gold," according to the latest statistics from the Secretary of State's fundraising license plate program.

"We offer Michigan motorists a variety of fundraising license plates, and their donations make a difference in people's lives," said Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. "Our Olympic Education Center license plates support a one-of-a kind facility that helps our nation's athletes train for a chance at Olympic glory."

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2003, more than $34,000 was generated from plate sales and transferred to Northern Michigan University for the Olympic Education Center.

On February 9, 1985, the U.S. Olympic Committee established an Olympic training center on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Michigan's Olympic Education Center (OEC) license plate went on sale in June 1995. To date, there have been 53,704 Olympic Education Center license plates sold.

The plate features a decal with the red, yellow, black, green and blue rings representing the Olympic Games on a Lake Superior blue license plate. The license plate fee is $25, in addition to the vehicle registration fee. A portion of the original fee goes to the OEC, and all of the fees collected at the time of renewal are dedicated to the OEC. To see the Olympic plates, as well as the other 22 fundraising plates, visit www.Michigan.gov/sos. All plates can be ordered at any Secretary of State branch office.

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