Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, June 1, 2000

Release #201-00

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel/Mary Lasher (212) 788-2958
  Elina Kazan, Macy*s 212/494-4624
  Dana Young, Yahoo! Inc. 408/616-3631



MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI, MACY*S AND NYC 2000
ANNOUNCE 4TH OF JULY SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS 2000

Also Announce First-ever NYC 2000 Charity Fashion Auction
sponsored by Yahoo! ® Auctions and Macy*s

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, NYC 2000 and Macy*s Herald Square today announced locations for the City's 4th of July firework displays. Entitled "Macy*s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 2000 - A Millennium Celebration: Beyond the Dream" and produced by Macy*s, this year's show will be the largest fireworks display in the nation. Also announced today was the first-ever NYC 2000 Fashion Auction - a charity auction hosted by Macy*s, Yahoo! Auctions and NYC 2000 benefiting the Center for the Arts Education. The auction features the same dresses, fine jewelry and accessories worn on the runway during the NYC 2000 Fashion Show - one of the largest fashion shows ever held in New York.

Today's announcements were made in front of the "Ship of State," a float from the annual Macy*s Thanksgiving Day parade. Attending the event were Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington; Jean McFaddin, Senior Vice President, Public Relations and Events for Macy*s, and Linda Bennett, Marketing Manager for Yahoo! Inc. Norm Lewis a performer from Broadway's Wild Party, and Roger Bart, a performer from Broadway's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, sang Beyond the Dream in honor of the fireworks. The musical group Columbia Kingsmen also performed at the ceremony. Models Ling and Michelle B. from the NYC 2000 Fashion Show also shared the stage.

Mayor Giuliani said, "Each 4th of July, New York City hosts the nation's finest fireworks show and, on behalf of all New Yorkers, we wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Macy*s for hosting this fine display. I encourage people throughout the City to come out and watch the fireworks and celebrate America's birthday and the new millenium. Most importantly, I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day."

Jean McFaddin said, "We are extremely pleased to partner with the City of New York and NYC 2000 to continue the celebration of the new millennium in New York, first with the launch of the NYC 2000 Fashion Auction, and also with our annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular -- a true New York event. And, to celebrate America's 224th birthday, we wanted to put on the most spectacular show that New York and America has ever seen! With four firing locations and more fire power, Macy*s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 2000 promises to be bigger and better than ever before."

This year's show will have barges at the following locations - the East River from 19th Street to 38th Street; the South Street Seaport; the Hudson River; in the vicinity of the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum; and the Narrows between Brooklyn/Staten Island, which will all fire off simultaneously from 12 barges. Over 60,000 shells will be fired in the show, triple the amount from last year.

For the first time, the show will be televised nationally on NBC so that everyone from coast to coast can join in the celebration. The fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. and last thirty minutes.

The NYC 2000 Fashion Auction

From June 1 through June 15, the NYC 2000 Fashion Auction, hosted by Yahoo! Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com), puts more than 90 designer dresses and 38 pieces of fine jewelry up for virtual auction. The bidding was kicked off today at Macy*s 34th street window immediately following the press conference. All proceeds raised go to benefit the Center for Arts Education, a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide every student in New York City public schools with increased exposure to the arts.

Through a uniquely designed Internet kiosk at the 34th Street windows of Macy*s Herald Square, New York City residents and visitors can view items and bid along with online bidders around the world on dresses and jewelry created by some of the world's most-renowned designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and many others. In addition to bidding at the kiosk, visitors can view more than nine of the original millennium dresses that are on display in the 34th Street windows.

Thirty-eight pieces of fine jewelry, ranging from a $30,000 Tahitian cultured pearl necklace to items that retail for under $100, have been donated by the fine jewelry industry, which is the third-largest manufacturing segment in New York City. The jewelry donations were coordinated by the Jewelry Information Center (JIC), a non-profit trade association that represents the entire fine jewelry industry, from suppliers to retailers. Headquartered in New York City, the JIC provides consumer information on new designers, trends and how and where to buy fine jewelry.

Those who cannot make it to New York City can visit Yahoo! Auctions at http://auctions.yahoo.com and bid on the items.

Mayor Giuliani said, "More than 90 of the world's most influential designers contributed their time and creative energy to celebrate New York City during the NYC 2000 Fashion Show, and we are pleased to unveil the next level of this important event in New York, the fashion capital of the world. Together, NYC 2000, Yahoo! Auctions and Macy*s offer New Yorkers and people throughout the world with an opportunity to participate in history and appreciate the artistic advancements of our city's many talented designers."

Rich Godwin, brand manager of Yahoo! Auctions said, "The NYC 2000 Fashion Auction is a fantastic example of how a non-profit organization can be supported in the New Century, and is also a landmark fashion event, merging the virtual and the physical world. Yahoo! Auctions and Macy*s coupled with the city of New York, offer an ideal stage to bring together a global Web audience and world-class retailer to deliver an interactive auction experience unlike any other, and at the same time support arts in the New York City public schools."

With more than 15,000 fashion-related establishments and 225,000 employees, the fashion industry is one of New York City's largest employers and every year generates $19 billion in economic activity. New York is not only the nation's number-one host of fashion shows for world-renowned and established designers, it is also home to thousands of the world's up-and-coming designers who have trained in one of New York's eight prestigious schools dedicated to fashion and design.

"We are proud to team with NYC 2000 and Yahoo! Auctions to bring this high profile and important event to life and set the stage for what is certain to be one of New York's and the Millennium's most memorable events," said Jean McFaddin, Senior Vice President, Public Relations and Events, Macy*s.

NYC 2000, the Mayor's Office for the Millennium, was established through an Executive Order by Mayor Giuliani to ensure that New York City's Millennium celebrations are befitting of the world's financial and cultural center. Comprised of a dynamic group of business and community leaders, and chaired by actor Ron Silver, NYC 2000 is showcasing the best New York City has to offer through the year 2000 and continuing through the official start of the millennium: New Year's Day, 2001.

www.ci.nyc.ny.us


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