J.P. Patches Statue Committee Announces PEMCO CEO's Challenge to Local Business Leaders

News Release
February 11, 2008

SEATTLE - The volunteer committee working to raise funds for a statue to honor J.P. Patches announced today that on the 50th anniversary of the debut of "The J.P. Patches Show," some local "Patches Pals" have joined forces to urge their fellow CEOs and everyone in the community to, once and for all, get the statue funded and installed.

Stan McNaughton, the chief executive officer of PEMCO Insurance, is the spokesperson for the Patches Pals, who wish to remain anonymous. McNaughton issued this challenge: for each dollar that people donate to the statue fund, the Patches Pals will match it up to $50,000. McNaughton also stressed that he's merely an enabler in this effort, and that the statue will become a reality through the efforts of many people.

McNaughton said the Patches Pals who issued the challenge prefer to be unnamed because "this is about honoring J.P., not spotlighting the donors."

The chairman of the statue committee, Bryan Johnston, thanked McNaughton and observed that the generosity of his gesture was a clear indication of the importance that this region attaches to the legendary clown and children's show host. "Stan has told us that he is a Patches Pal himself," said Johnston. "Many of the kids who watched the show faithfully have grown up and gone on to great things. From the beginning, the statue fund has been a community project, and this is one way the community's business leaders can show the entire region exactly what J.P. Patches meant to all of us."

The J.P. Patches Show debuted on KIRO-TV on February 10, 1958, and ran through 1981. Over that period, millions of children in Western Washington were enthralled and entertained by the hi-jinks of J.P., played by actor Chris Wedes, and his faithful sidekick, Gertrude, played by Bob Newman. The show is believed to be the longest-running, locally produced children's television program in history.

About 18 months ago, a group of civic volunteers and Patches Pals formed a committee to begin raising funds for a life-size bronze statue to be unveiled during the 50th-anniversary year of the show. The statue, conceived by local sculptor (and lifelong Patches Pal) Kevin Pettelle, depicts J.P. and Gertrude in a characteristically frenetic dance, titled "Late for the Interurban." Also depicted in the sculpture is the ICU2-TV, from which J.P. issued personalized birthday greetings to his delighted but puzzled young fans. Like famed Rachel the Pig in the Pike Place Market, the ICU2-TV serves an additional purpose; it has a slot to accept direct donations, all of which go directly to Children's Hospital. Wedes, as J.P., has been a passionate supporter and frequent visitor to Children's Hospital from the show's earliest days.

Johnston said all statue donations are tax deductible, and he estimates $80,000 is needed to complete the project. McNaughton said any money raised beyond that total will go directly to Children's Hospital.

To donate to the statue fund, log on to www.jppatches.com, or call Urban Sparks at 206.992.2779 (www.urbansparks.org). Urban Sparks, a non-profit arts group located in Seattle, is an IRS-approved 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) and is the fiscal sponsor for the J.P. Patches statue project.

For More Information Contact:
Bryan Johnston, 206.728.8872
Mark Briant, 206.930.6661