FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2009
Contact: Tarah Holland
Public Relations/Social Media Manager
318.429.0653
tholland@sbctb.org
SHREVEPORT GROUP SEEKS TO SPREAD IRISH CHARM
Shreveport-Bossier, La. – The luck of the Irish is on the minds of 4 Shreveport members as the group gears up for its second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will kickoff at the corner of Albany and Anniston in Shreveport’s Broadmoor neighborhood on Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m.
This year’s parade route will begin and end at the corner of Albany and Anniston in Shreveport’s Broadmoor Neighborhood. The festivities will flow down Ockley to Grover, curve onto Arthur and then back to its starting point at Anniston and Albany.
Along the route, expect many St. Patty’s Day-themed throws including inflatable beach balls, Frisbees, cups, shamrock hats and beads with Irish coins.
4 Shreveport is a non profit organization composed of young professionals with children in the Shreveport-Bossier area. The organization was founded in early 2008 by Emily Welsh, graphic designer and mother of one.
The group aims to support young professionals and businesses in the community by helping them establish contacts and friendships in the area, while giving them an opportunity to learn more about and contribute to worthy causes.
Welsh has fond memories of her family riding in the St. Patrick Day Parade during her childhood years in her hometown of Baton Rouge. Now a Shreveport resident, she not only wanted to bring the excitement of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to the area, but she saw this event as an opportunity to benefit the community.
"Our board of directors liked the idea of giving back and giving to charity, but we wanted to be able to help many different deserving organizations, so the ‘Charity of the Year’ idea was born," Welsh said.
The "4" in the name 4 Shreveport signifies the four annual events that will be thrown by the organization. All profits generated by the events benefit the group’s chosen charity. The number "4" also refers to the organization’s icon, the 4 leaf clover. According to Irish tradition, the four leaf clover signifies hope, faith, love and luck.
This year, 4 Shreveport has selected Reach Out and Read as its Charity of the Year. The Reach Out and Read Program is a national nonprofit organization that aims to promote early literacy and developmental skills of children. ROR seeks to accomplish this by giving books to children in pediatric exam rooms and informing parents about the importance of reading to their young children.
Last year, 4 Shreveport’s sponsored Charity of the Year was The Right to Play Playground. The mission of this group is to build all-inclusive playgrounds designed to allow all children, fully able and those with special needs, to play together in an area that is accessible, clean, safe and fun.
"Last year we gave $3,500 to the Right to Play Playground. They plan to use it for new equipment for the toddler area," Welsh said. "We would like to donate just as much or more this year."
For more information about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or 4 Shreveport, call Emily Welsh at (318) 861-7789 or send an email to 4shreveport@gmail.com or visit www.4shreveport.org.
For more information about the Reach Out and Read Program, visit www.reachoutandread.org, or for more information about The Right to Play Playground, visit www.righttoplay.org.
Looking Forward to the Fun?
"Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter
Lullabies, dreams, love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes."
-Irish Poem, Author Unknown
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