SANTA MONICA, Calif., (April 15, 2008) --- One winning bidder will ride in style this summer when the historic Ferris wheel from Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier becomes their very own as the highest bidder on eBay. The 10-day auction runs from April 15 to April 25 and can be found by entering “Pacific Wheel Ferris Wheel” in the search box at ebay.com. The reserve is set at $50,000 with 50 percent of the winning bid being donated to Special Olympics Southern California.

“Where there is the Wheel, there is a way for Pacific Park to raise money for Special Olympics,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing and sales at Pacific Park. “We have partnered with the great organization for more than 10 years and feel this is the grandest gift we could offer the organization. It’s a sign of our commitment to their mission and reinforcing our valued long-term relationship.”

The Ferris wheel originally cost approximately $800,000, weighs 122,000 pounds, stands 90 feet tall and is 30 feet wide. It has become a Southern California icon over the past 12 years. Installation of an all-new, $1.5 million contemporary Ferris wheel begins May 5 with a grand opening community celebration scheduled for the evening of Thursday, May 22.

“Pacific Park and Special Olympics continue to strengthen their relationship and commitment to families, athletes and the community with this unique donation and auction on eBay,” says Maria Shriver, Board of Governors Special Olympics Southern California. “The winning bidder will gain a historical piece of Santa Monica while making a difference in the lives of Special Olympics athletes.”

Chance Morgan, Inc. in Wichita, Kan., is the manufacturer of both Ferris wheels and is offering the winning eBay bidder the Ferris wheel base that supports the wheel at cost of approximately $135,000. Chance Morgan, Inc. will donate 10 percent of the amount to Special Olympics Kansas.

“Pacific Park and Special Olympics are two great organizations that we feel privileged to be in partnership with,” says Mike Chance, president and CEO of Chance Morgan, Inc.

The Pacific Wheel debuted May 1996 with the opening of Pacific Park and was adapted as the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel in November 1998. The nine-story Pacific Wheel was later selected “Best Solar System” in the Reader’s Digest Best in America 2006.

Forever in the spotlight, the Pacific Wheel has over 300 celebrity appearances including 105 photo shoots, 71 television commercials, 69 television shows, 28 feature films, 13 music videos and top billing and appearances in television’s most popular programs.

The Pacific Wheel, which has provided more than 3 million rides over the beautiful Santa Monica Bay in its 12 years of operation, stands 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean and features 20 gondolas with a maximum eight riders per car. The Wheel accommodates up to 600 riders per hour.

About Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission-free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 21 midway games and an oceanfront food plaza. Prices and operating hours are subject to change, so please call ahead (310) 260-8744 or visit pacpark.com.

About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California is a year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 12,500 athletes in 11 counties train and compete in 21 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics Southern California at www.sosc.org.

About Special Olympics Kansas
Special Olympics Kansas is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports competitions, health and nutrition programs and leadership development. Offering year-round initiatives to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Kansas is a platform for acceptance and inclusion as well as one of the largest advocates for healthy lifestyles in the state – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Visit www.ksso.org for more information.

About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995, eBay Inc. connects hundreds of millions of people around the world every day, empowering them to explore new opportunities and innovate together. eBay Inc. does this by providing the Internet platforms of choice for global commerce, payments and communications. Since its inception, eBay Inc. has expanded to include some of the strongest brands in the world, including eBay, PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com and others. eBay Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.

About Chance Morgan, Inc.
Chance Morgan, Inc. is a world-leading amusement ride company, offering one of the broadest product lines in the amusement industry. CMI contracts with Chance Rides Manufacturing, Inc. to produce their entire product line, including modern steel coaster systems, custom-themed thrill rides, classic family rides and efficient people movers. From their 300,000 square-foot facility in Wichita, KS, experienced CRM employees build rides and provides service for parks, carnivals, zoos and other entertainment venues worldwide. For more information about Chance Morgan, visit www.chancemorgan.com.