Yahoo News, Business Wire
December 20, 2000
Press Release

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2000--Gladdie and Othello, two American Bald Eagles rehabilitated by the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, are rigorously preparing for their roles as featured riders on Target's ``America the Beautiful'' float in the 2001 Tournament of Roses Parade.

The dynamic duo will accompany Grammy Award-winning performer Amy Grant on a float featuring two magnificent floral American Bald Eagles -- whose wings span 55 feet -- and a 28-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument.

``The design of Target's float has special significance this year, as it represents the support that Target has provided to preserve two of our nation's historic symbols -- the American Bald Eagle and the Washington Monument,'' said John Remington, vice president Special Events and Publicity, Target Corp. Target was a major underwriter of the recent restoration of the Washington Monument.

While hundreds of Target team members in Los Angeles and surrounding cities are already decorating the massive float with hundreds of thousands of flowers, trainers from the Raptor Center are busy preparing Gladdie and Othello for their appearance in the dazzling New Year's parade.

``We've designed special perches for the birds to get used to their 2 1/2-hour ride on the float,'' said Ron Osterbauer, associate director of the Raptor Center. ``The perches fit on a trailer, and the birds will be driven around campus so they can get used to an adoring audience as well as the bumpy movement of a float bed.''

On Christmas Day, Gladdie and Othello will fly to Los Angeles by jet, compliments of Northwest Airlines, to bask in the warm sun, attend rehearsals, greet fans, do media and interviews, and rub feathers with other celebrities.

Both Gladdie and Othello survived near-death experiences and were nurtured back to health by the nationally recognized Raptor Center, which is dedicated to healing and returning injured birds to the wild, as well as educating people nationwide about birds of prey. While the center's goal is to release injured birds back into the wild, Gladdie and Othello's injuries were so severe that they could not survive in the wild. Instead, they have become ambassadors for the Raptor Center and Minnesota.

``In 1994, the Raptor Center was a regionally known facility,'' explained Osterbauer, ``But over the past few years through our educational program we've reached people and trained veterinarians from around the world. This year's Target float is really special to us because, in 2001, it is being proposed that the Bald Eagle be removed from the endangered species list. As a result of individual and corporate support such as Target's, our nation's symbol has been saved.''

Minneapolis-based Target Stores serves guests at 978 stores in 46 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Whether visiting Target Stores or shopping online at target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. The largest division of Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT - news), Target Stores gives back more than $1 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact:
Target Stores
Patty Morris, 612/304-1908
or
Raptor Center
Ron Osterbauer, 612/624-1276 or 651/338-5059
or
Shepley Winings Hober
Karen A. Kukurin, 818/760-7131

More Articles