POSTED MAY 16, 2016
(Portland, OR) –
Public/private partnership helps bring Portland free summer movies, concerts and more
Building on a multi-year partnership, Comcast announced that it will become the Title Sponsor for Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) the 2016 Summer Free For All program. Support from Comcast, the information and entertainment provider to the most homes in Portland, will help PP&R deliver the popular, free summer program series to an audience that topped 320,000 attendees in 2015.
“I am grateful to Comcast for their support of the beloved Summer Free For All program,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “Comcast’s commitment to the Summer Free For All title sponsorship shows their passion for making our community better and helps deliver dozens of free outdoor movies, concerts, and playground and lunch programs to Portlanders.”
“Comcast is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Summer Free For All program,” said Rodrigo Lopez, Regional Senior Vice-President of Comcast Oregon and Southwest Washington. “We are proud to support families, friends and neighbors coming together in parks and playgrounds all over Portland to enjoy live performances and movies under the stars.”
The program’s uniqueness stems in part from its broad base of community support. This year, hundreds of donors, including local businesses, community groups, neighborhood associations, and individuals, will give generously to a program that is tailored to offer the best of entertainment, including local and regional talent, at Portland’s parks.
This year’s SFFA includes 55 Concerts in the Park, 41 Movies in the Park, 27 Summer Playgrounds & Lunch sites, 20 Mobile Playgrounds sites, Free Swim sessions at all of PP&R’s indoor and outdoor pools, and the Washington Park Summer Festival. In addition, a Children’s Concert Series at Unthank Park is new this year.
“Our mission is for ‘Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland’,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. “And the Summer Free For All is a wonderful way that many people first engage with Portland Parks & Recreation programs. Companies like Comcast help make these connections possible, leading to a lifetime of healthier, happier people of all ages.”
Summer Free For All schedules are expected to be finalized, posted on our web site, and distributed within a few weeks.
To better serve Portland’s diverse community, PP&R is offering the Summer Free For All schedule in nine different languages this year: Arabic, Burmese, English, simplified Chinese, Nepalese, Russian, Spanish, Somalian and Vietnamese.
Summer Free For All programming consists of a broad portfolio of culturally diverse music, movies, and recreation programs. Through the Summer Playgrounds & Lunch program, PP&R expects to serve more than111,000 free, healthy lunches to children in parks across the city. 57% of young Portlanders qualify for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year. Portland Parks & Recreation supports families by offering nutritious meals and recreational activities during the summer recess. The Summer Playgrounds & Lunch program is accompanied by sports, games, crafts and family activities, including our mobile rock climbing wall.
Stay up to date and follow Portland Parks & Recreation on both www.Facebook.com/PortlandParks and on Twitter: @PDXParksandRec
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit http://www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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