First 100 Children at Miami Zoo to Receive Free Passes

(BUSINESS WIRE) – GEICO will be handing out free passes to the first 100 children who come to the Miami Metro Zoo on Saturday, Jan. 31 to help celebrate the one year anniversary of GEICO’s traveling gecko exhibit.

The live gecko exhibit is part of an ongoing GEICO and AZA nationwide conservation campaign. The tour features the giant day geckos, one of the largest of all geckos, which are native to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands. The GEICO Gecko costume character will also appear at the zoo each weekend during through March 1.

“We realize that money is tight within both the family budget and for zoos and aquariums across the country,” said GEICO Vice President Rynthia Rost, “and we’re happy to provide tickets so children can get a close-up look at the great wildlife education that zoos and aquariums provide.”

In addition to Rost, Miami-Dade Assistant County Manager Alex Munoz, GEICO Vice President George Rogers and AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy will take part in the Miami celebration.

The three-year partnership between GEICO and AZA will continue to take the traveling GEICO Gecko exhibit to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide throughout 2009. Future stops include Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago. Through GEICO’s AZA advertisements, which have helped boost zoo attendance, GEICO has provided a commitment to the AZA and wildlife conservation.

“We hope that this year’s anniversary celebration at each GEICO and AZA exhibit stop will not only help bring attention to the importance of wildlife conservation, but also provide an economic way for families to enjoy each other’s company in the fun and educational setting of a zoo or aquarium,” said Rost.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months of written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.

SOURCE: GEICO