U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for Dec. 9: Giving to Help Others

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is the daily"Profile America" feature for Dec. 9 from the U.S. Census Bureau:

FRIDAY, DEC. 9: GIVING TO HELP OTHERS

Profile America for Friday, Dec. 9. The first Christmas Sealswent on sale on this day in 1907 at a table in the lobby of theWilmington, Del., post office. The idea was to sell special stampsdesigned by Emily Bissell to put onto Christmas mailings -- with theprofits used in the fight against tuberculosis. The goal was $300,and 10 times that amount were sold. The next year, sales reached$135,000. From then on, the seals have been sold nationwide. Today,Christmas Seals are sold by the American Lung Association -- one ofthe charities to which Americans contribute nearly $184 billion ayear, or just over $3,500 itemized on each household's tax return. Find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureauon the Web at http://www.census.gov.

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Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office ofthe U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available asproduced segments ready to air on a monthly CD or on Internet athttp://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button). For furtherinformation, contact Rick Reed at 301-763-2812, fax at 301-457-3670,or e-mail at rreed(At)census.gov.

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