American Family Housing Presents Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons -- Professional BBQ Competition, Music Festival and Car Show

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2016) - American Family Housing (AFH) -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness -- proudly presents its 5^th annual Ribs, Pigs and Watermelons -- Professional BBQ Competition, Music Festival and Car Show, August 5-7 at Huntington State Beach. The culinary extravaganza raises awareness and critical funds to support homeless veterans, individuals and families in Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, with 35 professional BBQ teams, filling a quarter mile stretch of the State Beach parking lot alongside the boardwalk.

The event aims to raise funds for American Family Housing's sustainable housing project, Potter's Lane, which will provide permanent housing for chronically homeless veterans as well as education, counseling and supportive services for homeless and low-income veterans and families within the community.

While many areas of our country are experiencing decreases in the numbers of homeless veterans, Southern California is seeing an unsettling and unacceptable increase. As bleak as this may sound, there is still hope and AFH plans to take the lead with Potter's Lane.

"There's a serious need for sustainable and permanent housing for our chronically homeless veterans," says Donna Gallup, American Family Housing president and CEO. "With Potter's Lane, we will be able to provide the critical services they need and we are honored and proud to be able to support such a deserving group of people."

In addition to a professional BBQ competition which will include more than 35 of the top nationally ranked professional BBQ teams, there will also be an all-day reggae festival, Reggae4Relief, on Saturday, August 6, featuring some of California's best reggae bands including Pato Banton and the Now Generation, Arise Roots, CAL1FA, Special Blend and others. Friday night's music features country bands and Sunday will showcase classic rock bands. Other activities for the entire family include a classic and hot rod car show, kids activities, watermelon- and rib-eating contests, live music, craft beers and the nation's best BBQ all weekend long.

Sponsors of the event include: Wells Fargo, Navco, Pacific Premier Bank, Rainbow Environmental Services, Republic Services, Hub International, U.S. Bank, Southwest Toyota Lift, G&M Oil Co., Buyers Access, HW Senior Living, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Don Wood Auctions, Katten Muchin Rosenman.

For more information about the event, or to directly support American Family Housing, visit www.afhusa.org.

ABOUT AMERICAN FAMILY HOUSING: Founded in 1985, American Family Housing (AFH) is a nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of housing and a broad spectrum of services to vulnerable populations facing barriers to achieving housing stability, including war veterans and adults with disabilities and mental illness. Operating 63 housing sites, with 283 units that serve more than 1,300 adults and children each year in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, AFH is committed to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness, helping low-income families and adults achieve a self-sustaining way of life and become active members of their communities. Follow American Family Housing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit www.afhusa.org for more information.