SPOKANE, Wash., May 1st, 2008 – The Inland Empire Toyota Dealers announced today they will sponsor the Spokane Lilac Festival for the next three years. Their sponsorship will include generous charitable cash donations as well as joint promotion and advertising. The parade will feature 12 new Toyota vehicles as well as several convertibles for parade dignitaries. The Dealers and the Festival will engage in numerous joint promotional activities such as events, TV advertising and billboards. Lead by E-Media, the Dealers are actively working with Festival representative to execute an aggressive promotional plan.
“We are very excited about this partnership with the Spokane Lilac Festival,” said Eric Hixson, president of E-Media, member of the Centaur Group, LLC. Hixson went on to say, “Partnering with the Festival provides us with many exciting promotional opportunities for our clients to showcase their automobiles and it provides and excellent leverage of our advertising budget. We have some great promotional events in the works for next year’s festival.”
“Supporting the Festival is our way of giving back to the community and showing good corporate social responsibility,” said Dave Combs owner of Downtown Toyota. Combs went on to say, “I have always been a big fan of the Festival and now I get to help them in a big way and our business will benefit from it.”
Past President and Parade Chairman of the Festival Russ Brown states, “We are honored by this new partnership and sponsorship. We are looking forward to the next three years and to seeing all those new, shiny Toyotas in the parade line-up, filled with our parade dignitaries and VIPs!”
The Inland Empire Toyota Dealers consist of seven Toyota Dealerships. These dealerships are located around in the Inland Northwest and cover all of Eastern Washington and parts of Northern Idaho. Downtown Toyota and Spokane Valley Toyota are members of the group in Spokane County. For more information please contact E-Media.
The Centaur Group was established in 1999 with one thing in mind – to provide clients with superior advertising and marketing products at a price they can afford. The group consists of three independently owned advertising agencies: E-Media, Power Marketing, and Talley and Company, Inc. For more information please visit www.centaur-group.com.
The Spokane Lilac Festival hosts the largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in the Nation, celebrating 70 years of tradition. This year the Festival’s theme is “Salute to Service.” The parade is attended by over 150,000 spectators and the event is broadcast overseas to our troops and locally on KHQ and Comcast channel 79. The Festival’s mission is to honor our military, nurture our youth and promote the Spokane region through ambassador outreach. For more information please visit www.spokanelilacfestival.org.
SPOKANE, Wash., May 8th 2008 – KHQ and their partners at Comcast today announced that it will provide live broadcast of the 70th Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade on Saturday night, May 17th. This news comes as a pleasant surprise to the Spokane Lilac Festival and will provide excellent coverage of the parade in addition to Comcast’s broadcast on Channel 79.
“We are very excited about this new development with KHQ.” said Russ Brown, past president and Parade Chair, Brown went on to say, “Our goal is to provide our sponsors with valuable business promotion in exchange for their generous contributions. This additional broadcast on Channel 6 will mean that they will receive an even greater value, and our patrons at home will have an easier time watching the parade on television.”
“Supporting the Festival is an activity we look forward to every year.” Said Patricia McRae, spokesman for KHQ, McRae went on to say, “We were very pleased to share this news with the Lilac Festival and we hope we will have the opportunity again next year.”
KHQ is a premier local broadcast serving the greater Spokane region and eastern Washington. For more information, please visit www.khq.com.
The Spokane Lilac Festival announces the sponsors of the 2008 Festival Week. The Spokane Lilac Festival, celebrating its 70th year, depends on generous donations to support the nation’s largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade.
For many years, the Festival has enjoyed support from Advanced Mechanical Systems, Associated Garden Clubs, First Team Construction, Flaig Steel, Larson Demolition, the Lilac Society, Peters and Sons Flowers and Gifts, the Spokesman Review, Wandermere Golf Course, Wells Fargo Bank, and Ziegler Lumber Company. This year, in addition to our Exclusive Parade Sponsor, Inland Empire Toyota, and the four premier sponsors, Avista, Coeur d’Alene Casino, STCU, and Northwest Bedding, it welcomes new sponsors Banner Bank, Panda Web Express and Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Media sponsor KHQ highlighted the Festival at a three-hour telethon on Saturday, April 26 where many community organizations and individuals called in their outstanding pledges and support of the upcoming May 17 parade, garnering $6,100.
With the support of these sponsors and donators, Spokane Lilac Festival will make 2008 “Salute to Service” another successful year! The Lilac Festival showcases and celebrates Spokane and the Inland Northwest Community. The highlight event is the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade held this year on May 17, 2008. The Parade will be televised live on Comcast Channel 79 beginning at 7:45pm. The Association represents the Spokane community at festivals and parades throughout the Northwest region.
The Spokane Lilac Festival Association announced the 2008 Junior Lilac Princesses at the sixth annual Royal Tea Party, sponsored by Banner Bank, Sunday April 13, held at the Davenport Hotel. The 2008 Salute to Service Royal Court hosted little princess and their chaperones from all across Spokane to partake in tea and an afternoon of festivities. These princesses will ride the Spokane Lilac Festival float with the Royal Court in the Spokane Rotaract Junior Lilac Parade, downtown Spokane, May 10. Riding with Queen Sarah Crowley will be Paige Headrick, daughter of Curtis and Kim Headrick; with Princess Alyssa Robinson will be Hannah Pelkie, daughter of Rick and Melissa Pelkie; with Princess Kaylee Van Gelder will be Christine Stephens, daughter of Kelly and Rob Stephens; with Princess Alexandra Cozza will be Helen Garabedian, with Princess Kylee Denevan will be Ginny Lou Garabedian daughters of Jennifer Troiano; with Princess Marilis Earle will be Kaitlyn Ward, daughter of Tina and Mark Ward; and with Princess Jeannette Thompson will be Stephanie Sawchuk daughter of Amie Sawchuck.
The Spokane Lilac Festival presents the sixth annual Royal Tea Party, Sunday April 13, 2pm to 4pm at the Davenport Hotel. The 2008 Salute to Service Royal Court will host little princess and their chaperones from all across Spokane to partake in tea and an afternoon of festivities. All ages are invited. Girls, ages four to nine, will have an opportunity through a drawing to be a Junior Lilac Princess and ride the float with the Royal Court in the Junior Lilac Parade, downtown Spokane, May 10. She must be present during this drawing. Tickets for the event are $16 per person and available through the Spokane Lilac Festival Office at 509.535.4554 or Donna Aberasturi at 509.467.5968.
Tickets must be purchased by April 9. Proceeds to benefit the Spokane Lilac Festival Association.
The Spokane Lilac Festival announces the sponsors of the 2008 Court. The Spokane Masonic Center partnered to provide the venue for the Royalty Coronation. Green Gables Photography, as the official Festival Photographer provided portraits of each of the candidates and will be photographing the court. Celestial Selections is providing the wardrobe for the Royal Court, including the gown, day dress and shoes. Spokane Racing Limos provided transportation on Coronation day and will provide transportation during the Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, May 17. Mark Webb of Mark Webb Jewelers, jeweler for the Spokane Lilac Festival is providing the Court Jewelry for each court member.
The Spokane Lilac Festival, celebrating its 70th year, depends on generous donations such as these to support the nation’s largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade.
The Spokane Lilac Festival Association has elected the following officers for 2007-2008. President Cecelia Stephens President Elect Michael P. Waldrip Treasurer Elisabeth Hooker of Spokane Teachers Credit Union Immediate Past President Sandy Brown, with Wandermere Golf Course
The following people have been appointed vice presidents of the Festival: Area Relations, Mike Noyes Marketing Mark Smith of Becker Buick Hosting, Sandy Brown Float, Arne Weinman of First Team Construction Membership Development, Christine Leva with Spokane Public Schools Community/Military, Myron Bursell with Green Gables Photography Parade, Russ Brown Royalty, Darla DeCristoforo
President Cecelia Stephens unveiled the pin design and announced the Year 2008 festival theme: Salute to Service.
Directors and community volunteers recognized at the September 11th Recognitions Banquet: New Directors of the Year, Elisabeth Hooker and Ken Briggs
In the Shadows Awards to: Leanne Brown, Stephanie Crary, Linda Hooten, Richard Logerwell, Michael Moore, and Bill Thordarson.
The prestigious Purple Hammer was presented to Wilma and Wayne Engstrom. Beyond the Call awards were presented to Donna Aberasturi, Pat Cadagan, Joan Frank, Karen Kearney, and Bev Stenson.
The You Lilac My Life award was present to Kathy Kendall for her hard work and dedication in chairing the successful August event, Sand in the City
Receiving the 2006/2007 President’s Award, Russ Brown, Darla DeCristoforo, and Cecelia Stephens
The Parade is always held on the third Saturday in May, Armed Forces Day, as we honor the men and women of all branches of the United States military services. The theme for 2008 is "Salute to Service." Work has already begun for the 70th Annual Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, the largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in the nation. The numerous events that enhance this special week in May include The Associated Garden Club Luncheon, the All City Civic Military Luncheon, Royalty Luncheon, and Presidents Dinner. On Parade Day, May 17th, Heavens Cruisers present the "Cruizin' the Falls Classic Car Show" on Spokane Falls Boulevard. For more information on "Heavens Cruisers," click here or go to http://www.heavenscruisers.com.
In celebration of its 70th year, the Spokane Lilac Festival’s 2008 theme pin was unveiled and is available for purchase at the 2008 Royalty Coronation, Sunday, February 10, 3:30pm at the Spokane Masonic Center. “Salute to Service.” this year’s theme honors the individuals and groups such as military, law enforcement, firefighters, hospital workers, teachers, community volunteers and so many more who are dedicated to serving the Greater Spokane area.
The Festival relies on revenue from pin sales for its annual operating budget and to present the nation’s largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. The purchase price is $5.00 each. This year’s goal is to sell 7,000 pins by parade day May 17, 2008.
Thanks to the support of local businesses, pins will be available in 160 locations throughout the greater Spokane area.
The Spokane Lilac Festival Association presented the Royalty Coronation at the Spokane Masonic Center, February 10, 2008.
The 2008 Spokane Lilac Festival Royal Court was chosen from among 14 finalists from Spokane County High Schools. The 2008 Court and her high school:
Scholarships were awarded to each of the seven members selected as the Year 2008 “Salute to Service” Royalty Court. An additional $1,500.00 scholarship was awarded to Queen Sarah from the Ralph Husom Spokane Lilac Festival Past President’s fund, and she wore a new Queen’s Robe, fashioned by Patt Hooker and donated by Doris Distad, 50-year Lilac Festival Director. Princess Marilis Earle also received the Spirit of Lilac Scholarship provided by the Associated Garden Clubs, awarded by Karen Gendron, President, and presented by Alexandra Stierwalt, last year’s Spirit of Lilac award recipient. Princess Alyssa Robinson, received the Excellence in Academics Scholarship provided by Avista and presented by Mike Dedmon. A new scholarship, The Blossom Award, given to the Fab 14 member who showed the most improvement through the training process, was awarded to Princess Alexandra Cozza, and sponsored by Peters and Sons Flowers and Gifts.
Tovah Yaron was chosen for the Most Inspirational Speech scholarship and Kylie Berger, received the Communication Scholarship; both of these awards were provided by Mike and Cecelia Stephens.
The Spokane Lilac Festival wishes to thank the Spokane County Hotels and the CVB for honoring the Spokane Lilac Festival with an award in the amount of $12,500 in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Area. The Spokane Lilac Festival brings in approximately 4.5 million dollars in tourism money during the third week in May. The Festival volunteers work year-round promoting Spokane and the surrounding area and are delighted to have established a partnership with the CVB.
These funds will be used for promoting the Spokane community and the Spokane Lilac Festival by using advertising and outreach programs. This Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Award will help the Lilac Festival continue into its 71st year of honoring the military and youth of the Greater Spokane Area. Thank you once again to the Spokane County Hotels and the CVB!
The Spokane Lilac Festival has consistently brought to the Spokane area visitors, "heads in beds", military personnel, and lots of kids during the third week in May. The City of Spokane recognizes the value of our annual springtime event and is assisting in promoting the largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in the nation. The committee has awarded $12,500 in lodging tax funds to help the Spokane Lilac Festival succeed in advertising and promoting Spokane and its 70 year tradition. Thank you City of Spokane!