ADVISORY/Grand Re-Opening of Redmond's Hartman Pool by Northwest Center; Community Celebrates Historic Partnership That Saved Pool.

City Desks, News & Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Saturday (May 10)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

The unique partnership between the City of Redmond and Northwest Center that kept the Hartman Pool in Redmond open and operating will be celebrated in a grand re-opening this weekend.

Ownership of the pool officially transferred in April from King County to the Northwest Center, a local non-profit agency that works to enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities. "We were delighted to have been able to work with the City of Redmond to keep this pool open, and since we assumed operations, it's been thriving," said Dave Wunderlin, CEO of the Northwest Center. "This weekend will be a time to celebrate this wonderful partnership and thank the community."

Mayor Rosemarie Ives said, "The Northwest Center and City of Redmond partnership is a terrific example of the city's vision of creating a community of good neighbors who together preserved this wonderful recreational asset for the Redmond community now and in the future."

    WHAT:      The Northwest Center will celebrate this unprecedented
               and historic partnership between government,
               communities, non-profits, and corporations to save the
               Hartman Pool in Redmond with a grand re-opening. Nancy
               Sclater, President of the Northwest Center Foundation
               and Dave Wunderlin, Northwest Center CEO, along with
               Redmond's Mayor Rosemary Ives will be on hand for the
               opening celebration.

    WHERE:     Hartman Pool
               17535 NE 104th
               Redmond, WA 98052

    WHEN:      Saturday, May 10, 2003
               Doors open at 10:00 a.m. (full program listed below)

    PROGRAM:   10:00 a.m. -- Doors Open
               11:00 a.m. -- Program Begins

                --  Welcome to the Redmond Hartman Pool

                --  Dave Wunderlin, Northwest Center CEO, and Nancy
                    Sclater, President, Northwest Center Foundation

                --  Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives and Redmond City
                    Council

               11:20 a.m. -- Swimmers Launch the Program

                --  Seniors Program

                --  Masters Program

                --  High School Program

                --  Youth Program

                --  Preschool Program

                --  People with Disabilities Program

               11:25 a.m. -- Photographs

                --  The Mayor and Redmond City Council

    WHY:       Hartman Pool is an integral part of the community,
               providing programs for youth, high schools, swim
               clubs, masters, seniors and people with disabilities.
               The City of Redmond and King County agreed last month
               to have Northwest Center take over the operation of the
               pool due to County budget shortfalls. Additionally, the
               transfer enabled community and corporate donors to
               support the pool and provide the community with direct
               access to pool management.

               By assuming operation of the pool, the Northwest Center
               is also fulfilling its mission of providing adults with
               disabilities a chance to work in jobs in the community.
               Employees with disabilities will perform many of the
               necessary tasks at the pool, such as groundskeeping
               and janitorial.

               The Center has been successfully operating community
               pools in Bothell and Mercer Island since earlier this
               year as part of an initiative to keep community
               resources like these open to the public during budget
               challenges.

    DIRECTIONS:

               From Seattle or the Eastside -- Take 520 and stay to
               the left until it dead-ends and becomes Avondale.
               Follow Avondale to 104th. Turn left on 104th and
               proceed to the top of the hill. The pool is on the
               right-hand side.

Background

Northwest Center

"To promote the growth, development, and independence of persons with disabilities through programs of education, rehabilitation, and work opportunity."

-- July 21, 1965

Northwest Center is a non-profit organization that provides services to people with disabilities throughout the Puget Sound region. Founded in 1965 by parents of children with developmental disabilities, the Center has grown to encompass a preschool and 12 distinct enterprises. The preschool focuses on early childhood development in an integrated program of preschool-age children with delays and their typically developing peers. The business enterprises offer unique programs that provide opportunities to work competitively in the community at large. The businesses not only train and employ adults with disabilities but also offer workers community jobs that, without our ongoing support, would be impossible. Currently, Northwest Center employs over 500 people.

For more information visit Northwest Center's website at www.nwcenter.org.

Northwest Center Foundation

"To improve the lives of people with disabilities by addressing a life-long spectrum of services necessary to provide assistance from birth through old age in a safe environment."

-- January 1, 2003

The Northwest Center Foundation was launched with the 2003 new year and focuses on enhancing funding opportunities to support people with disabilities throughout their lives. Our mission is to heighten understanding of disability issues in order to develop greater financial support for our projects. Specifically, the foundation addresses the life-long spectrum of services necessary to assist persons of disability from birth through old age in a safe environment. As we focus on each stage of an individual's life, our programs include developing innovative strategies for children and adults with profound disabilities, creating employment initiatives to serve a greater number of people in a wide variety of vocations, and to increase efficiencies and quality in medical care delivery. The Northwest Center Foundation also serves as the administrative entity to manage the advised funds for the community pools, specialized employment funds, and endowments. We seek funding for capital projects, program enhancements, and special projects.