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To further our mission for community service, Art & Soul’s Executive Director, Jennifer Ritchkoff, helped put together a Community Festival in the Park for Hollywood residents and organizations on Saturday, July 14th in DeLongprePark, in collaboration with, and sponsored by the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council (www.CHNC.org).
A huge success… over 425 people from the community attended the event! Twenty-five local organizations had informational booths, including four neighborhood theatres – the Blank Theatre Company, Celebration Theatre, Open Fist and Theatre of Note. It was a day of fun and fellowship that far exceeded everyone’s expectations. Go Hollywood!
Our fabulous Councilman, Tom LaBonge, showed his support and spoke to the community, with other civic organizations also in attendance: CD 4 & 13, DWP & LAPD Pal Program. ARTEL (American Russian Theatre Ensemble Laboratory) performed for the many children who attended (including Hollywood’s Little Leaguers, who came out in droves with their families), balloons were distributed to all the children, and free food was offered to all those who attended – with box lunches from Subway, delicious cookies by local restaurant, Grub, and water supplied by local club, Circus. Pets were adopted out by local animal rescue, Bark Avenue, and people were educated on Animal Welfare. Hollywood Beautification Team gave away a truckload of trees, and local gardeners from MansfieldGarden shared their goods. Other service organizations in attendance included the Hollywood Arts Council, the Boys & Girls Club, the Hollywood Public Library, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), and Friends Helping Friends. The Media BID supplied the wonderful security team, and CHNC was able to show their support for the community.
Thank you to all who attended this wonderful day – which we hope will become a semi-annual event… and we look forward to the next one!
