Alaska Airlines steps up to save jazz festival

By Associated Press

Summary

Just weeks ago, festival organizers were planning to stop operations. Now, Alaska Airlines plans to help the festival meet its fundraising goals by giving it $50,000 a year for two years.

Story Published: Oct 1, 2008 at 9:10 AM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 3:08 AM PDT

Alaska Airlines steps up to save jazz festival

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Alaska Airlines is helping to revive the Portland Jazz Festival.

Just weeks ago, festival organizers were planning to stop operations. The four-year-old festival was $100,000 short of making its $686,000 annual budget and it had lost its title sponsor when Qwest told organizers in April it couldn't provide its usual $50,000.

Now, Alaska Airlines plans to help the festival meet its fundraising goals by giving it $50,000 a year for two years.

Organizers say the Alaska Airlines donation and other new pledges will be enough to keep festival plans on track.

The festival is scheduled to start February 13. Organizers estimate last year's event drew about 36,000 people.

 

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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