Port of Long Beach awards nearly half of its sponsorship budget to local organizations

This week, the Port of Long Beach awarded $440,650 of their $1 million sponsorship budget to 100 local organizations dedicated to environmental welfare, social justice, the arts and historic preservation among other causes.

This support comes from the Port’s community sponsorship program, whose $1 million budget was approved on Oct. 1 for the 2018 fiscal year, according to a release from the Port.
The initiative allows Long Beach organizations to submit funding requests twice a year, in September and March.
“Programs like this show our commitment to serving the public and promoting groups and events that make Long Beach a better place to live and work,” said Harbor Commission president Lou Anne Bynum in a statement.
Events that received funding this time around include the Cambodia Town Culture Festival, Fourth Fridays on Fourth Street, the American Cancer Society’s Long Beach Cancer League Gala, and the International City Theatre’s Free Saturday Family Theatre Series.
In exchange for the Port’s sponsorship, these events are required to provide a promotional platform for the Port and it’s mission to attendees. Port staff members will attend selected events to provide further information.
“Our community sponsorships provide our staff with opportunities to interact with residents who may not know their Port brings them many of the goods they use every day and the Port supports more than a million jobs around the country,” Bynum continued in her statement.

By: Julissa James
Staff@longbeachlocalnews.com