PHILADELPHIA, May 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Presented by the Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council (ICPIC), the Thirteenth Annual International Islamic Heritage Festival is part of PECO Energy's Multicultural Series. This FREE event is the only Islamic Heritage Festival of its kind in the country, drawing visitors, vendors, and Islamic scholars from all over the country. Taking place on the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street on June 11, 2005 from Noon - 8 p.m., the event will be a chance to experience authentic Islamic cuisine, music and entertainment along with learning about the rich Islamic heritage and history. PECO Energy is a proud supporter of the Multicultural series at Penn's Landing which features ten different ethnic festivals and Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 20th Anniversary season at Penn's Landing.
Following ICPIC's the first annual Education and Business Conference, emphasizing moral life, business and education, the festival will kick off with a "Unity in Diversity Community Parade," featuring Youth Groups, Drill Teams, Schools and Community Organizations from across the Delaware Valley. The parade will commence at 11 a.m. at Independence National Park, 5th and Market Street, and end on the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing.
The Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council is also celebrating the recently opened New Africa Center Muslim American Museum and Archive during the festival. Samples of the museum's exhibits will be on display during the festival. One gallery from the museum entitled the "New Africa Muslim American Hall of Fame" gallery chronicles the history of Islam in America through eye-catching photographs.
Over 50 national and international merchants will be on hand selling an assortment of goods and services from around the world including Islamic arts and crafts, books, clothing, and unique foods. Offering something for everyone in the family, the day's events will also present games for children and wellness workshops highlighting stress management and featuring Homeopathic practitioners. Speakers Dr. Qadir Abdus Sabir and Imam Siddeeq Jihad will conduct informative workshops on "Understanding Islam and the Muslim Community."
In addition to the bazaar and activities, stage entertainment will be provided throughout the day beginning at 1:00 p.m. World-renowned UPK Generals will perform as well as the Universal African Dancers, the Association of Islamic Charitable Project's Madih Chorus, young rap/spoken word artists Dat Boy Dave and the Exiles, singers extraordinaire Wali Ali and Suad El-Amin and the Muslim Vanguard Jazz Ensemble Healing Force. Other musical groups will feature Muslim rap artists as well as multicultural performance groups.
Admission is free for all PECO Multicultural Series events. More information about the International Islamic Heritage Festival can be found at www.icpic.net
Supporting the region's diversity has been a longstanding goal for PECO, who has sponsored the multicultural festivals at Penn's Landing for the past ten years. "All of us at PECO are thrilled to return again to the waterfront to support the multicultural festivals," said PECO president Denis O'Brien. "Penn's Landing is a Philadelphia summertime tradition and the PECO Energy Multicultural Series is a fun way for us to celebrate the wide range of diversity represented in our service territory."
PECO Energy is proud to be Philadelphia's hometown energy company and one of the region's most prominent civic supporters. PECO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and celebrating diversity inside and outside the Company.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO Energy is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC). PECO serves 1.5 million electric and 460,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2004, the company delivered 37.5 million megawatt hours (mWh) of electricity and 87.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.49 billion in revenue for Exelon. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary Season at Penn's Landing, Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 2005 Summer Season at Penn's Landing. Penn's Landing is Philadelphia's Waterfront district, running along Columbus Boulevard from Washington Avenue to Spring Garden Street. The main site for the more than 75 festivals, concerts, and events at Penn's Landing is the Great Plaza, located along the Delaware River on Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street. For more information on event locations and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.pennslandingcorp.com.