FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

February 6, 2008               

CITIES TO PARTNER WITH FAITH COMMUNITY FOR SERVICE AND CELEBRATION

(Portland, OR) City leaders will join with representatives of Portland’s faith community on Tuesday, February 12, to announce an historic collaboration among civic, business, and religious entities to bring a “Season of Service” and a world-class music festival to the city.

The launch of the unprecedented project will be held at Cedar Mill Bible Church, 12208 NW Cornell Rd., Portland, OR 97229, beginning at 12:30 PM on February 12. More than 500 pastors and church leaders will join City Commissioners Erik Sten and Sam Adams and the mayors of Hillsboro (Tom Hughes), Gresham (Shane Bemis), and Beaverton (Rob Drake) to hear an outline of the program from author and Christian communicator Luis Palau and other partners in the projects.

With the theme “Love-Serve-Celebrate,” thousands of volunteers from the area’s diverse faith community are expected to work on varied service projects addressing critical needs of the homeless, the hungry, the medically uninsured, the impoverished, the environment, and the public schools. Included will be a pilot project created in cooperation with Mayor Tom Potter’s office called the Home Again Mentoring Program, which will focus on bringing together homeless families with counselor/mentors recruited from area churches.

The finale for the “Season of Service” will be a festival celebration called “Portland CityFest 2008 with Luis Palau” to be staged at Waterfront Park on August 22 and 23. The free, family-friendly event will include top musical artists, a family fun zone, action sports, and free health and family services. The last Luis Palau festival in Portland was held in 2000 when more than 140,000 people attended over two days.

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