FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) will host the Snow Ball Gala on Mon., Dec. 29, at the new Washington Convention Center for the benefit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Boy Scouts of the National Capital Area, the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area. The Snow Ball, sponsored by The Washington Post and BB&T is the gala benefit event of WANADA’s 2004 Washington Auto Show: “History with a Future” (Dec. 26 – Jan. 4, Washington Convention Center).

One of Washington’s holiday highlights, the Snow Ball Gala will welcome more than 1,500 WANADA members, community patrons and industry VIP’s to the convention center’s new ballroom. Since its inception, the Snow Ball has raised nearly $1 million for local charities and has achieved record contribution levels in recent years with the addition of a gala silent auction.

“We’re taking every aspect of the Washington Auto Show to a higher level this year --literally. The Washington Convention Center’s huge new ballroom is one of the largest on the east coast. More seating and more patrons means that we can provide more funding to five deserving and important charitable and service organizations,” explains WANADA board member Tammy Darvish, Snow Ball chairperson and general manager, DARCARS Toyota.

The Snow Ball will be preceded by a VIP viewing of the Washington Auto Show at the Washington Convention Center at 4:30 p.m., followed by a reception, dinner and dancing in the ballroom at 6:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. with music from Spectrum.

“We’re delighted to continue our long association with WANADA and the Washington Auto Show Snow Ball, and to be included with these four other organizations that do such outstanding work for the constituents they serve. The positive impact of this one event will be felt in D.C., Virginia and Maryland throughout the year to come,” said Pat Shannon, president and chief executive officer, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. WANADA’s support of the Boys and Girls Clubs is a 15-year tradition that began with the first Snow Ball.

Tickets for the Sixteenth Annual Washington Auto Show Snow Ball are $350 per person or $3500 for a table of ten. For more information, call (202) 237-7200.

The Snow Ball is sponsored by The Washington Post and BB&T and hosted by WANADA. The event is organized by a gala committee comprised of members of WANADA’s Board of Directors and Auto Show Committee and representatives from the five benefiting organizations.

The 2004 Washington Auto Show: “History with a Future” will bring acres of new cars, trucks, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles from over 37 domestic and import automakers to the new Washington Convention Center from Dec. 26, 2003 through Jan. 4, 2004. For auto show operating hours, ticket information and discounted “e-tickets,” visit the Washington Auto Show online at www.washingtonautoshow.com or contact WANADA at 1-866-WASH-AUTO. Take METRO to Mt. Vernon Sq./7th Street Convention Center Station.

Now entering its 87th year of existence, WANADA represents dealerships throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.