A Two Million Dollar Licnese Plate

Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains Park

submitted by Holly @ Friends of the Smokies

Have you seen one of those green license plates with a black bear lately and wondered what that was all about? Well, that handsome plate is now worth over $2 million in support of our Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has now raised a grand total of $2,051,320 through its specialty license plate program in North Carolina. The Smokies specialty plate program began in late 1999.

"The $2 million mark represents a considerable milestone in the Smokies plate program in North Carolina," said Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "Almost anywhere you go in the park in North Carolina, these tag funds are making a positive difference for both park resources and park visitors. We sincerely appreciate everyone involved in this program's success."

Friends of the Smokies has utilized the plate funds to help protect black bears, elk, and other wildlife; to educate tens of thousands of North Carolina school children; to protect Fraser fir trees and hemlock trees from harmful exotic insects; to improve backcountry trails; to create exhibits for the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center now being built near Cherokee; to support volunteer programs; and much more.

"Reaching $2 million in sales doesn't happen overnight," said Stephen W. Woody, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Smokies. "We thank everyone involved, from the park staff to the State of North Carolina to the people in the tag offices and all of the drivers. Of course, our work to help the Smokies is far from over. We have many more opportunities to preserve and protect the park and enhance the visitor experience, and we hope North Carolinians will continue to support the Smokies license plate for many more years to come."

The Smokies plate is available any time from any local North Carolina license plate agency office. Of the extra $30 annual fee for the specialty tag, $20 goes to Friends of the Smokies to support projects and programs on the North Carolina side of the park. More information is available online at www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org or by calling (828) 452-0720.