Superbowl-a-thon Raises Thousands to Help Homeless

April 2, 2008

CONTACT:
Dawn Smith, PR Manager
Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tel:  (310) 319-6263, (800) 771-2322 E-mail: dsmith@santamonica.com
 

SANTA MONICA, CA (March 2008)- The twelfth-annual SuperBowl-A-Thon raised $16,000 for the Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition, an alliance of over 40 organizations on the Westside working together to end hunger and homelessness through education, advocacy and service coordination. The fun-filled event, which was held in February, included 95 teams and more than 500 participants representing various businesses, social service agencies and local government from across the Westside. Money raised from this event goes directly to the Westside winter shelter program providing emergency supplies for men, women and families in transition.
 
“The money goes toward getting people off the street and into the winter shelter,” said Lisa Fisher, Director of the Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition. “These dollars help support more than three-hundred people each night to receive a shower, hot meal, and a place to sleep from December thru mid-March.”
 
Local bowlers who took a strike out of homelessness-included Santa Monica’s Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom, Police Chief Timothy Jackman, Fire Chief Jim Hone, along with civic leaders, staff from various nonprofit organizations, and local travel and tourism employees.
 
“SuperBowl-A-Thon is a wonderful way to bring community leaders and local businesses together who want to have fun, support a good cause, and make a difference,” said Misti Kerns, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau President/CEO.
 
SMCVB was one of 25 teams that participated in the unique event from the local hospitality community, which raised more than $7,500 for the Coalition. In the last two years, area tourism industry employees have raised more than $18,000 for the organization. This year, the Viceroy Hotel‘s team pinned down a victory in the hospitality session, scoring 785 points and earning a perpetual trophy in the process. Danny Wolske, an employee at the Viceroy, also took home a victory for highest individual score.
 
Among some of the highest overall pledge earners were Stacy Eller, Morgan Stanley; Danny Wolske, Viceroy; Laurie Newman, Human Relations Council Santa Monica Bay Area and Angela Bongioranni with the Sheraton Delfina.
 
First Federal Bank was this year’s “Perfect Game” title sponsor with “Strike” sponsors including: SMCVB, Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association and The Lobster, as well as “Spare” level sponsors: Venice Family Clinic, Santa Monica Place, Pacific Park, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Kaiser Permanente, and Harding Larmore Mullen Jackle Kutcher & Kozal, LLP.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition  (WSHC) is a non-profit volunteer organization that operates under the administrative umbrella of Community Partners. The Coalition was founded in 1982 to serve the Westside of Los Angeles County and is the oldest Coalition in the County working on behalf of the homeless. WSHC is an alliance of more than 40 organizations, public agencies and faith communities committed to ending hunger and homelessness through service coordination, public education and advocacy. In the last two decades, the Coalition has proven to be an effective tool in providing high-quality programs and services for those in need in the community. For more information visit www.westsideshelter.org <http://www.westsideshelter.org> .
 
Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) is a non-member, non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a premier travel destination. For travel and accommodation information please call (800) 544-5319 or (310) 319-6263; or email info@santamonica.com ; or write  Santa Monica Visitor Center, 1920 Main Street Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Official Santa Monica Maps, Visitor Guides, Corporate Guides, Art Trek, Design District, Big Blue Bus and Historical Landmark Maps are available at all Santa Monica visitor service locations and can be mailed upon request. To reduce our environmental footprint, some of these materials can also be downloaded or ordered from our website at www.santamonica.com <http://www.santamonica.com> .

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This page was last updated on 04/02/08.