BY JON WILSON, Columnist
ST. PETERSBURG — The festival celebrating the new African American Heritage Trail is Oct. 10-12, and organizers are encouraging sponsors to step up as planning comes down to the wire.
Groups and organizations, including businesses, churches, fraternities, sororities and civic organizations are invited to help insure the success of the kick-off event, which will include a street festival, VIP reception, a Gospel brunch, vendors, a marching band, a reenactment of Stokely Carmichael’s 1960s speech in front of the Sno-Peak drive-in and other features.
Various levels of sponsorships are available. Benefits for sponsors include promotion of their organizations’ names, tables at events and prestigious memberships in Friends of the Trail. Contributions below the sponsorship level also are welcome.
“This is a community effort. The Trail belongs to the community,” said Gwendolyn Reese, African American Heritage Association president. Committee members have emphasized the importance of financial support for the event.
Contact Reese at gwenreese@tampabay.rr.com for sponsorship packages. Checks can be made out to the African American Heritage Association – or simply AAHP – and mailed to Reese in care of the Carter G. Woodson Museum of African American History, 2240 Ninth Ave. S. St. Petersburg, 33712.
The sponsorship levels are:
- The $1,500 Gold Level (two available to sponsor either of the Singin’ & Swingin’ Sunday events: Gospel Brunch or Jazz at the Manhattan with the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association.) Your organization will be promoted as sponsor of either of the Singin’ & Swingin’ events. The Gold Level includes one table (including signage with your organization’s name) for eight guests and eight tickets for free drinks at the VIP Legacy Garden Reception.
- In addition, the Gold Level includes eight annual memberships in the Friends of the Trail, and your organizations’ name will be included in all television and radio interviews, print media and in the on-site sponsor signage and all publications.
- The $1,000 Silver Level includes one table for eight guests and five tickets for free drinks at the VIP Legacy Garden Reception. It also includes five annual memberships in the Friends of the Trail. Your company logo or name will be included in the on-site sponsor signage and all publications.
- The $500 Bronze Level includes five tickets to the VIP Legacy Garden Reception and two tickets for free drinks, two annual memberships in the Friends of the Trail, and public acknowledgement at the VIP Legacy Garden Reception.
