Summer Free For All - 2016 Final Report

2016 FINAL REPORT

SUMMER FREE FOR ALL Like a chorus of cicadas, the vibrating tones of children's new toy horns make a satisfying end to a symphony evening in the park.

Light sabers clash and tiny heroes shriek, battling in the narrow spaces between blankets, while a technician warms up the movie projector.

A child’s “thank you”—sometimes shy, sometimes exuberant, often in their native language—follows the exchange of a friendly greeting and free lunch.

A baseball thumps into the glove of Portland’s newest athlete and he raises his arm in triumph.

These are a few of the sounds and scenes from a community at play this summer. It’s that annual convergence of long days, sun-filled parks, free concerts, dance, movies, games, swims, and food that is Portland’s Summer Free For All. To our sponsors and supporters: thank you for helping us create these and thousands of other summer memories.

PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION AMANDA FRITZ, COMMISSIONER MIKE ABBATÉ, DIRECTOR

PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION GINA EIBEN, BOARD CHAIR JEFF ANDERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summer Free For All empowers Portlanders to create and cultivate community by providing free, accessible, family-friendly summer activities that celebrate our city’s growing cultural diversity.

OUR REACH IN 12 WEEKS 269,189

ATTENDANCE

558,612

Web Views

217,466

Facebook Reach

108,530

Free Lunches Served

THOUSANDS

Radio Commercials

HUNDREDS

Cable Commercials

THANKS TO iHeartMEDIA AND 93.1 El Rey

THANKS TO COMCAST

48

Print Media Mentions

8

Televised News Stories

9

Language Translations of Marketing Materials

FRONT COVER, BACK COVER, AND ABOVE PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENJAMIN BRINK

It’s rewarding to see Portlanders come together to enjoy their community. We’re helping families make lifelong memories in our parks with the wonderful music and films of Summer Free For All. RODRIGO LOPEZ, REGIONAL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT COMCAST OREGON/SW WASHINGTON

LUCEIL RICE

Scenes from the 2016 summer season include: The Latino Network’s Ballet Folklórico Corazones Alegres, fun being had at our movies and playgrounds programs, Portland Parks & Recreation staff serving summer lunches, singer-songwriter Edna Vazquez, and a free swim event. Special thanks to photographers Luceil Rice, Benjamin Brink, and Fred Joe.

STORIES OF SUMMER THE MAESTRO’S FINALE Applause rose from the crowd enjoying a summer picnic, as the sounds of the Portland Festival Symphony moved across a patchwork of colorful blankets and through the tall firs.

Retiring Maestro Lajos Balogh, who founded and led the Symphony for 35 years, stood behind the crowd to survey the scene during his final season of Concerts in the Park. Toddlers ran in circles, dads bounced their babes, and a little boy played a stick like a trombone. At intermission, kids plucked violins and thumped kettle drums at the “Instrument Petting Zoo.” Uplifting, noisy, and joyful, the Maestro’s gift of free summer concerts will carry on. GRANT PARK

54 +

DAYS OF LUNCHES

CONCERTS

MOV

291 FREE ACTIV

LAURA 0. FOSTER

CREATING COMMUNITY “You just have to ask,” says Arlene Kimura. Thanks to a full year of friendly asks and diligent follow-ups, Arlene, Linda Robinson, and Carol Hasenberg raised $10,000 this year from East Portland businesses and residents to make Concerts in the Park possible. With four events at Ventura Park bringing together as many as 800 people at once to enjoy Western swing, soul, Afrobeat, and Latin jazz, these women work tirelessly to build community and fun in their local park. VENTURA PARK STARS ARE BORN One hot July night at Essex Park, 15 or so dancing kids inched closer and closer to energetic blues singer and bandleader LaRhonda Steele. Suddenly, they were up on stage with her, belting out the chorus of “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. The new “Essex Park Junior Choir,” as LaRhonda dubbed them, exited the stage to cheers and applause. LaRhonda loves her gigs in Portland parks. “The energy is so light and bright,” she says.

“It makes us feel hopeful.” ESSEX PARK

61 +

CHARITI MONTEZ

41 +

VIES

54 +

DAYS OF PLAYGROUND ACTIVITIES

81 =

SUMMER FREE FOR ALL | 2016 FINAL REPORT

FREE SWIM SESSIONS

VITIES AT 95 SITES

COMING FULL CIRCLE Greeting some of the 150 kids who came for free lunches at McCoy Park, banker Joe Dang suddenly realized this was the very program he and his brothers had benefited from as kids. As sons of a single dad, they were always glad to grab a free summer meal at Pier Park, then swim or play all afternoon—a resource his dad was also grateful for. This was the fourth summer that Bank of America employees have distributed lunches to kids in parks—part of their tradition of giving back to communities they serve. MCCOY PARK “YOU GOT THIS!” The boy came every day, but sat out many games at Wellington Park because he’d never learned to catch or throw. Activity leader Corey Falbo decided to step in. He started with the basics: aiming your throw, mastering your fear of an oncoming ball, and estimating where and how fast to run for it. The two practiced every day. “He and I were committed,” Corey said. By summer’s end, teacher and student were proud: “We were both really excited by his new abilities to keep up with the other kids.” WELLINGTON PARK

BENJAMIN BRINK

LUCEIL RICE

140 MILES OF FUN Folk music from Veracruz pulled 11-year-old Nicole Flores up to her feet and onto the stage to dance the percussive zapateado one night at Parklane Park. Free movies, concerts, and swims created a summer of unforgettable moments for bicyclists Nicole and her mom Francisca. From their Buckman home, they pedaled to nine Movies in the Park, two Concerts in the Park, and four Free Swims. With round trips of two to 15 miles, they racked up 140 miles of biking to free summer fun. PARKLANE PARK

SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO OUR THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS! Your efforts helped generate over $2.32 million in revenue. For every City of Portland General Fund dollar spent, we leveraged $3.67 in donations and community support.

15%

Sponsors and Neighborhood Committees

2%

Community Donations at Events

1% Grants

$2.32 MILLION IN REVENUE

21%

City of Portland General Fund

TITLE SPONSOR $50,000+

PREMIER $25,000+ BANK OF AMERICA

LEAD $10,000+

Centennial Dining Services Chevron National Recreation and Park Association NW Natural Oregon Blue Print Pacific Power Portland Development Commission Portland Parks Foundation US Bank Walmart Foundation

SUPPORTING $5,000+

East Portland Action Plan East Portland Neighborhood Office East Portland Rovers Latino Network New Seasons Market Wells Fargo Whole Foods Market

CHAMPION $3,000+

61%

In-Kind Donations

Special thanks to NW Natural for their community partnership and continued support of the Summer Free For All Washington Park Sponsor Night.

Left to right: Von Summers (NW Natural), Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Director Mike Abbaté (Portland Parks & Recreation), Darrell Nelson (NW Natural)

PORTLANDPARKS.ORG | PARKLANDIA.ORG

iHeartMEDIA

Anonymous Music Lovers Collage Concordia Neighborhood Association Concordia University The Kristan Knapp Fund Legacy Health Services National University of Natural Medicine New Columbia Community Campus Partners Oregon Cultural Trust Multnomah County Cultural Coalition Oregon Health & Science University Portland Children’s Museum Portland Downtown Neighborhood Association Portland Water Bureau Sapphire Health Services SELCO Community Credit Union University of Western States Vacasa Windermere Stellar

MAJOR $1,250+

Aronora Artslandia Atlas Motors FamilyCare Health Grupo Antifaz Hawthorne Auto Clinic, Inc. Home Forward HomeStreet Bank Horse Brass Pub

93.1 EL REY

PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Inventif Solutions Kenton Neighborhood Association M Realty: Tatiana Xenelis-Mendoza Maid Brigade of Portland Multnomah County Health Department OnPoint Community Credit Union Oregon Public Health Division Partners for Hunger-Free Oregon Portland International Raceway Portsmouth Neighborhood Association Providence Health & Services Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer Roseway Neighborhood Association Schnitzer Steel Stages Northwest Tom & Nancy Brown Turner Construction Company Warner Pacific College Washman, LLC The Zidell Companies

CONTRIBUTING $600+

African American Health Coalition, Inc. Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association The Bee Bill Dolan: Guild Mortgage Boise Neighborhood Association Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association Bridlemile Neighborhood Association Brooklyn Action Corps Brooks Staffing Centennial Community Association Classique Floors The Community of Adsideo/The Living Room Creative Minds Learning Centers Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Association Cully Association of Neighbors Dance with Joy Studios Dawson Park Concert/Movie Committee Director Park (PP&R) DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital EcoTech LLC Everett Custom Homes Flying Pie Pizzeria Food Front Cooperative Grocery Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Foot Patrol Green Mountain Energy Hazelwood Neighborhood Association Holladay Park Partnership Home Sweet Home Realty Hong Phat Food Center

DAVID DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Irvington Community Association ISAT Seismic Bracing Madison South Neighborhood Association Maplewood Neighborhood Association Markham Neighborhood Association McMenamins Kennedy School McMenamins Rams Head Midway Business Association Mill Park Neighborhood Association The Missing Link Bicycle Shop Montavilla Neighborhood Association Mt. Scott Community Center (PP&R) Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association Multnomah University NW Examiner Oaks Amusement Park Old Geezers and Hippie Mamas Overlook Neighborhood Association Parkrose Neighborhood Association Pearl District Neighborhood Association Port of Portland Portland Painting & Restoration Portland Pickles Baseball Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association Remembering Kathy Schuman Richmond Neighborhood Association Ricky Hayter Agency Riverview Community Bank Russian-Speaking Community Leaders Salt & Straw Sean Z Becker Real Estate Sellwood-Moreland Business Alliance Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League (S.M.I.L.E.) South Waterfront Community Relations Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. St. Francis 24 Hour Animal Hospital St. Johns Center for Opportunity State Farm: Scott Brennan Agency Sunlight Solar Energy Sunstone Montessori School Swift and Union Tabor Tavern TeSóAria Vineyard & Winery Tutor Doctor US Bank - Legacy Emanuel Branch Vernon Neighborhood Association West Coast Fitness Wilkes Community Group Wonder Ballroom Woodlawn Neighborhood Association Woodstock Neighborhood Association AND MANY MORE!