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For Immediate Release
May 30, 2003
OAKLAND, Calif, (May 30, 2003) - In addition to the fun, the boundless entertainment, informative Port displays and the food, visitors to this year’s Portfest now can add another reason to attend: vicarious philanthropy.
Some $25,000 will be presented to five local groups: Safe Passages for Youth, the Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA), the Native American Health C enter, West Oakland Community Collaborative and the Unity Council Family Literacy Project.
Each group will receive a donation of $5,000. “We are proud that several of our major sponsors joined with us to make PortFest 2003 a reality,” said Harold Jones, director of communications at the Port. “Many organizations in our community are in need and we are pleased to make a contribution to these deserving groups.”
Besides the altruism, there will be plenty to see, do and feel good about at PortFest 2003 June 7 at Jack London Square. “The World Comes to Oakland” is the theme of this year’s estuary party that aims to educate visitors about the Port’s maritime, aviation and commercial real estate divisions and also entertain them.
The soulful singer Oleta Adams headlines the day-long entertainment from three stages. Other performers include local jazz-blues artist Faye Carol, pop-rocker Natasha Miller, former Tower of Power lead singer Lenny Williams and the Grammy-nominated Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
PortFest will also feature an acrobatic air show, antique airplane displays and muscle car exhibits, a balloons-and-clowns-kids zone, whale boat races, dock tours of the U.S.S. Potomac (a former presidential yacht) and the Lightship Relief, an operating seaport crane, shipping container displays, free boat harbor tours and the White Holly, a training ship used by the California Maritime Academy’s merchant marine vocational program.
More than 25,000 people are expected to attend PortFest 2003, where free fun will greet everyone at the Oakland waterfront, Saturday June 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jack London Square.
For more information, including questions about location, parking, public transportation and the free bicycle valet, call the PortFest Hotline, 510.627.1111.
Contact:
Harold Jones
Director of Communications
(510) 627-1564
hjones@portoakland.com |
