Discover Card Unveils 2012 Tournament Of Roses(R) Parade Float Design

November 16, 2011

Company Celebrates Dreams Coming to Life with "The Dream Believers" Interactive Float

RIVERWOODS, Ill., Nov 16, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Discover Card today unveiled its float design for the 2012 Tournament of Roses® Parade to be held on Jan. 2, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. This is Discover's second year in the Tournament of Roses Parade, which complements its partnership with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and four-year title sponsorship of the Orange Bowl.

As the 2011 Grand Marshal award-winner for excellence in creative concept and design, Discover hopes to wow audiences once again with a visually stunning float. In keeping with this year's Rose Parade® theme -"Just Imagine..."- Discover is working with Fiesta Parade Floats to design and construct a float entitled "The Dream Believers," which celebrates the powerful belief that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. The float depicts children peacefully sleeping and dreaming about various professions they aspire to be when they grow up, including a teacher, artist, rock star, doctor, astronaut and firefighter. Standing near each bed is the adult version of the child seeing his/her dream fulfilled. The float will feature entirely organic materials such as coconut, sweet rice, cornhusk, seaweed and a lush garden of more than 20,000 orange roses.

"Discover's float this year is about empowering and inspiring people of all ages to imagine what they want to accomplish in their lives and to fulfill their dreams," said Jennifer Murillo, vice president of brand communications at Discover. "We all have dreams and aspirations - who hasn't wanted to be a rock star at one point in their life? The concept of 'Just Imagine' feels very close to home for Discover since we strive to help people achieve a brighter financial future every day."

As a leader in customer service, Discover also will showcase six members of its customer service team on its float, all of whom are U.S.-based and won their spot on the parade through an internal company contest.

"Discover made a spectacular debut with 'A State Fair to Remember' last year, so we're excited to welcome them back to the 123rd Rose Parade," said Rick Jackson, president of the Tournament of Roses Association. "'The Dream Believers' is a concept that everyone can relate to, so we know it will fare well with viewers in the grandstand and on television. With rockets blasting, fireworks popping and a rock star singing, viewers are in for a real treat from Discover."

To share its Rose Parade involvement with customers and parade fans, Discover will continuously update its "March to the Rose Parade" blog, featuring events and activities related to the construction of the company's float. Visitors can learn about float making and judging criteria, see photos and video of Discover's float as it comes to life, and post comments on the blog at http://www.discoveratroseparade.wordpress.com.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit http://www.discoverfinancial.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50076172&lang=en

SOURCE: Discover Financial Services

Discover
Laura Gingiss, 224-405-0185
lauragingiss@discover.com