[Archived] City of Alexandria Invites the Public to Attend The Cajun Swamp Stomp

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	June 6, 2006 PIO# 147-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Invites the Public to Attend The Cajun Swamp Stomp
Cruise Features Evening of Sounds, Sights, and Tastes of Louisiana
and Benefits Foster Care and At-Risk Children

The City of Alexandria invites the public to attend The Cajun Swamp Stomp: The 3rd Annual Fostering the Future Cruise on Thursday, June 29. The cruise features an evening of sounds, sights, and tastes of Louisiana. The event will begin at 6:30 pm with a cocktail reception at the City Marina, which is located adjacent to the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. It continues at 7:30 pm aboard the Cherry Blossom –a luxurious and refurbished paddleboat– for dinner, dancing, and cruising on the Potomac River until 9:30 pm.

Tickets cost $65 per person and are tax deductible. The event supports The Fund for Alexandria’s Child and benefits children who are in foster care or at risk of abuse and neglect. This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to foster children in Greater New Orleans who continue to feel the impact of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Pat Doyle, Chairperson of the Advisory Council for The Fund for Alexandria’s Child, which is hosting the event, encourages Alexandria’s business leaders and individuals to become major sponsors of the cruise.

“Your contribution, from $500 to $5,000, will help the Advisory Council provide our foster children with the everyday things that every youngster should have,” Doyle said. “The Council is excited to showcase the culture of the Gulf Coast and help this special group of kids in our community and in New Orleans.”

Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners, a nationally known band that is being sponsored by Dominion Dental Services, will perform. Other cruise highlights include free dance lessons, a New Orleans buffet by Mango Mike’s Caribbean Restaurant, and wine that is provided by courtesy of William Harrison Imports.

Sponsors of the benefit cruise include the Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc.; Potomac Riverboat Company; Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille; Sue and Marty Goodhart; the Saylor Foundation; Barbara Dunn and Bob Taggart; Rob and Callie MacKenzie; Rehan Rashid; Mr. and Mrs. David Khani; Comcast Communications; the Barkett Foundation; R & B Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning; the Saylor Foundation; Caboose Bakery and Caf�; Dominion Dental Services; the Beyer Family Fund of the Alexandria Trust; Dominion Hospital; Jo Erkiletian; Neurofeedback Consultants; Old Presbyterian Meeting House; SMG Company; Studio Body Logic-Pilates; Wachovia Bank; and the West End Business Association, Potomac West Business Association, Eisenhower Partnership, and King Street Metro Enterprise Team.

The Fund for Alexandria’s Child provides enriching and rewarding activities for children who are in foster care or at risk of abuse and neglect when funds do not exist from any other source. Social workers administer the fund and money raised is used to pay for items such as scout uniforms, club dues, sports equipment, karate or art lessons, class field trips, prom dresses, graduation fees, community college books, and camping.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call Suzanne Kratzok, Coordinator of Community Resources, at 703.519.3318, extension 206, or e-mail suzanne.kratzok@alexandriava.gov.

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