Community Renewal hosts a

Celebration of Caring

Riverfront festival set for May 2 

For release: April 22, 2009

Celebration of Caring
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2
Where: Barnwell Center, downtown Shreveport riverfront
What: Free picnic lunch, jazz bands and dance lines from local schools, games for children and much more
How much: Free
Information: 425-3222

Area residents are invited to join Community Renewal and sponsor Red Ball Oxygen on the Shreveport riverfront Saturday, May 2, for the Celebration of Caring.

The fun event brings persons and organizations together from many neighborhoods to celebrate our common bond of caring. Activities include a free picnic lunch, live music, games for children and much more. Entertainment includes jazz bands from Airline, Byrd and Captain Shreve High Schools, and the band from Parkway High School; and dance lines and cheerleaders from Herndon, Judson and Parkway schools.

"When caring persons get connected with one another, we raise our own perception of our community as a good place to live. The more we become connected, the better our community becomes. The Celebration of Caring is a way to reinforce our common bond of caring for one another," said Tom Watts, director of the Renewal Team for Community Renewal.

 "Red Ball Oxygen has been a partner with Community Renewal for several years. The management and employees believe in the power of caring relationships and the positive effect that connecting caring persons has on the community. They are also an organization that puts service above self." 

Sponsor Red Ball Oxygen plans, funds, and provides the personnel annually to make the Celebration of Caring the best event it can be.

"Community Renewal does such important work in our city. From revitalizing neglected neighborhoods, to building parks, to helping those in need with a hand up, all of us at Red Ball Oxygen want to help them to succeed. Sponsoring the annual Celebration of Caring is but one small way we can help Community Renewal spread their philosophy of caring throughout our community," Monica Rogers, marketing and events manager for Red Ball.

Community Renewal International is a nonprofit effort to restore safe and healthy communities through caring relationships. Founded in 1994, Community Renewal reaches at-risk youth through Friendship Houses built in impoverished neighborhoods, strengthens education through the Adult Renewal Academy, partners with The Fuller Center for Housing and connects caring partners who turn their neighborhoods into safe havens of friendship and support.