Life is good® To Host Free Feel-Good Festival on Boston Common on June 20, 2009
On a mission to spread good vibes from coast to coast, The Life is good Company will once again take over the Boston Common on June 20, 2009, with a free-day-long family festival. From great music to good food - and all for a good cause - the Life is good festival is the place to be for all optimists…and those who want to be.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) April 10, 2009
On a mission to spread good vibes from coast to coast, The Life is good Company will once again take over the Boston Common on June 20, 2009, with a free-day-long family festival. From great music to good food - and all for a good cause - the Life is good festival is the place to be for all optimists…and those who want to be.
Life is good®, a Boston-based company that spreads good vibes through its colorful collection of apparel and accessories, has attracted more than 375,000 people and raised over $3 million for children in need through its nationally-known festivals. The free, outdoor celebrations feature great live music, classic backyard food, and a colorful mix of good-time games and activities for all ages. From seed spitting and Double Dutch to soccer kicks, tug-o'-wars and football flings, the Life is good Festival on the Boston Common is an invitation to free family fun and healthy play.
Funds raised through donations onsite and all profits from the sale of Life is good merchandise at the event will be directed by the Life is good Kids Foundation to Project Joy, a nationally-recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to use the healing power of play to transform children impacted by violence, poverty and loss into healthy players in the game of life. First established in Boston, Project Joy has expanded nationally, working with organizations on the Gulf Coast helping children affected by Hurricane Katrina as well as organizations throughout New England and as far away as Hawaii.
"We love bringing the Life is good Festival to Boston Common each year and bringing the community together for an old-fashioned day of outdoor fun in the sun. The upbeat, old-time festival feel reminds us - especially in these challenging times - that we all have much to be grateful for and much to celebrate," said Bert Jacobs, Life is good co-founder and chief executive optimist. "There are serious intentions behind all the fun too; more than ever kids are hurting in our city and need our help, and I know that the community of Boston will respond with a generous spirit."
In 2009, Life is good will expand its unique brand of playful optimism to an even wider audience than ever before, with four free, family-friendly festivals in major markets, including San Francisco, Toronto and St. Louis, in addition to the Boston festival. Each festival will feature top-notch musical acts and outdoor fun for all ages.
"Joining hands with Life is good offers us an incredible opportunity to educate people on the power of play," said Steven Gross, executive director for Project Joy. "Many of us take play for granted. Yet it has amazing powers to help children who have suffered from or witnessed trauma in their lives. With the support of Life is good and all who attend one of these festivals, Project Joy can help children who need it most to once again embrace their playful natures and reach their full potentials."
The Life is good Festival on Boston Common will feature top live entertainment, including music from The Blind Boys of Alabama, Brett Dennen and family-favorite SteveSongs.
The Blind Boys of Alabama
The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama combine musical passion and talent like very few others. Since coming together in 1939 at Alabama's Talladega Institute for the Blind, The Blind Boys of Alabama have sung a fervent blend of traditional and contemporary Gospel music. Winner of five Grammy Awards and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, The Blind Boys' audience now reflects the group's eclectic, global following, while their repertoire has expanded to embrace secular songs with a strongly spiritual message. The Blind Boys have also performed and recorded with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Randy Travis, Peter Gabriel, Solomon Burke, Lou Reed, Tom Petty, John Fogarty and Ben Harper.
Brett Dennen
Rolling Stone named Brett one of its "Top Ten Artists to Watch" last year, and his 2009 success supports the prediction. He will soon complete a 54-city tour -- happily supported by Life is good in appreciation for Dennen's support for the Life is good Kids Foundation - as he rides the success of his latest CD Hope for the Hopeless. He will arrive at the Life is good Festival in Boston fresh off a UK tour with The Fray and a performance at Bonnaroo. His rich voice, gifted songwriting and commitment to positive social change make him a not-to-be-missed performer.
SteveSongs
Family-favorite SteveSongs is the winner of numerous prestigious awards, including two Parents' Choice Gold Awards, an iParenting Media Award, and a Children's Music Web Award. Founder Steve Roslonek can be seen daily on the PBS Kids preschool destination - the two-hour morning television block and online destination at pbskids. org - as the new music teacher, "Mr. Steve." Steve's live shows rock with guitars, vocal-bass and drums, along with the Sensational Sillies on background vocals. Kids dance, sing and rarely sit still at a SteveSongs concert, leaving parents no choice but to join the fun.
In addition to great tunes, The Boston Common will become a destination for the entire family, featuring dozens of classic backyard games and activities, divided into several "villages:"
Jaketown features familiar games aplenty, including football, lacrosse, speed pitch, soccer kick, Frisbee toss, basketball, tug-o'-war, volleyball, and much more. Chillville is the perfect cool-down spot between physical activities, showcasing arts and crafts, face painting, and an entertaining kids' stage. The Joy Zone features cooperative kids' games hosted by Project Joy, including its amazing multi-colored 50-foot parachute.
The 2009 Life is good Festival on Boston Common is sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Citizens Bank, Clif Bar & Company, Dick's Sporting Goods, Pepperidge Farm, SAP, Sweet Leaf Tea, UPS, Verizon Wireless, Mike FM and The Improper Bostonian.
For more information on The Life is good Company, the Life is good Kids Foundation, the June 20 Life is good Festival on Boston Common, and the full 2009 national festival schedule, please visit www. lifeisgood. com/festivals (http://www. lifeisgood. com/festivals).
About Project Joy
Project Joy is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the healthy development of our most vulnerable children. Many of the children served by Project Joy are living in poverty and have been deeply impacted by violence, loss, and other traumatic experiences. Project Joy champions and protects the single most important activity in the life of a child -- Play. Project Joy provides teachers and childcare providers with the tools to strengthen and heal their children through play. Its unique training retreats are offered to childcare providers throughout the United States. More information can be found at www. projectjoy. com
About the Boston Parks and Recreation Department
As caretaker of the city's open space, the Department oversees over 2,200 acres of parkland, including 246 parks and playgrounds, 65 squares, urban woodlands and street trees, three active cemeteries, 16 historic burying grounds, and two golf courses. In addition to maintaining the historic integrity of famous landmarks, the Department provides programming and services and upgrades facilities ranging from neighborhood tot lots to the 527-acre Franklin Park. For more information on the Department, please visit www. cityofboston. gov/parks (http://www. cityofboston. gov/parks) or call (617) 635-4505.
About The Life is good Company
Life is good®, based in Boston, MA, spreads good vibes through its colorful collection of apparel and accessories, and the contagious grin of Jake, its optimistic cultural hero. For more information on Life is good®, please visit www. lifeisgood. com
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