PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Variety Club of Delaware Valley will launch a new winter campaign that is sure to bring a glow to everyone's heart! The Tree of Love is being unveiled at the Blue Cross RiverRink at Festival Pier on Penn's Landing on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. and will be on display throughout the holiday season.
The Tree of Love will provide an opportunity to increase awareness about the Variety Club as well raise funds for children with disabilities, while brightening the Blue Cross RiverRink's large evergreen tree donated by the Fairmount Park Commission. A light will be lit on the Tree of Love in the contributor's honor based on the contribution levels of $500+ (gold light), $499-$101 (green light), $100-$75 (red light), $74-$50 (blue light) or $49-$25 (white light), and a Variety Club heart ornament with the contributor's name will be placed on the miniature Tree of Love next to the original.
The Blue Cross RiverRink opens for its ninth season at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 29, 2002 on Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, located at Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street. Throughout the Opening Weekend Celebration, Blue Cross RiverRink visitors will enjoy free activities including a caricature artist, face painting, make-and-take crafts, and balloon sculptors.
Penn's Landing Corporation is excited about continuing its unique partnership with the Variety Club of the Delaware Valley and is proud to provide the usage of the Blue Cross RiverRink for the Tree of Love campaign as well as for special skating sessions for Variety Club kids on Saturday, December 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and every Saturday morning in January and February, also on March 1 and 8. In addition to the use of the Blue Cross RiverRink, Penn's Landing Corporation will also donate one dollar to the Variety Club from each skating admission sold from Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 1.
The Tree of Love has replaced the Variety Club's original holiday appeal and has become a highlighted holiday campaign for the Variety Club. The Tree of Love fundraising campaign is being supported by Penn's Landing Corporation, the Blue Cross RiverRink, PECO Energy, IBEW Local 98 and members of the public.
"We are delighted to launch the Variety Club's Tree of Love campaign at the Blue Cross RiverRink," said Dominic Sabatini, President of Penn's Landing Corporation. "We have found it very heartwarming to provide rewarding experiences for Variety Club youngsters through the sled skating sessions. Now, with the Tree of Love brightening our RiverRink, we can also provide this opportunity for the Variety Club to raise money to support the children they serve so well."
The mission of the Variety Club is to provide services and programs to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities through programs such as the summer, residential, and day camp programs at the Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center in Worcester, Montgomery County, as well as the Variety Club Direct Care for Kids medical equipment program. The Variety Club also offers a Golf-Buddy Program, where kids are teamed up with local PGA Pros to learn the sport of golf.
The Blue Cross RiverRink is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross. Other Sponsors include: PNC Bank, T-Mobile and Philadelphia -- the place that LOVES YOU BACK.
For more information about skating times, lessons, birthday parties or private receptions at the Blue Cross RiverRink, please call 215.925.RINK or visit www.riverrink.com.