Community has fun, fights hunger
at most successful blues festival ever

2011 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
breaks all records

PORTLAND, Ore. – (July 7, 2011) Amazing performances, perfect festival weather, enthusiastic volunteers, committed sponsors and generous blues fans helped make the 2011 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival the most successful ever.

“The 24th annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, broke all records,” announced Rachel Bristol, CEO, Oregon Food Bank. “As we close one fiscal year and begin another, facing a growing need and declining food supplies, the Festival gives us a tremendous boost in taking on these challenges.”

The festival attracted more than 120,000 people, who contributed 110,454 pounds of food and $748,000 through donations at the gate as well as advance purchases of special passes, exceeding the festival’s donation goal of 100,000 pounds of food and $650,000.

The Oregon Potters Association also broke a record, contributing $20,760 to Oregon Food Bank through sales of hand-made pottery and glass at its Empty Bowls booth.

The annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, is Oregon Food Bank’s largest fundraising event. Every $10 donation allows Oregon Food Bank to move more than 40 pounds of food through the OFB Network to help struggling families, seniors and the disabled. The festival is owned and operated by Oregon Food Bank. 100 percent of entry donations help Oregon Food Bank fight hunger throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

“Like the OFB Network of 950+ non-profit organizations, the festival involves the entire community. We thank our generous and committed sponsors, the more than 1,500 volunteers and festival staff who kept the four-day festival running smoothly, and the music fans, who not only had a great time, but also contributed food and funds,” said Bristol.

From a searing performance by six-time Grammy Award Winner Buddy Guy … to gotta-get-up-and-dance zydeco … to the rousing sounds of Northwest Community Gospel Choir … to the flaming harp of Grady Champion … to the soulful Robert Cray … to the fresh energy of rockin’ Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears … to Brother Yusef’s blues workshop for kids …to July 4th fireworks … the festival included something for everyone. The festival included more than 125 performances including six-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy, three-time Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams, Maceo Parker, Robert Cray, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Orgone, Bobby Radcliff, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Preston Shannon, Honey Island Swamp Band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Chris Cain, Nathan James, James Harman, Bruce Conte, Grady Champion, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns and more.

About Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank helps nearly 1 in 5 households fend off hunger by delivering food from a variety of sources through a statewide network of 20 regional food banks and 947 partner agencies serving Oregon and Clark County, WA. OFB also works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through: education programs for low-income youth and adults; outreach, public education and advocacy, and; bringing communities together to strengthen local and regional food systems.

Festival sponsors

Title: Safeway

Presenting: First Tech Credit Union.

Major: FedEx, KIA Motors, iQ Credit Union, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Schnitzer Steel, The Oregonian, KINK.fm.

Supporting: Schwindt & Co., The Boeing Company, Regal Cinemas, OregonLive.com, Delta Music Experience, Ecoshuttle, Smartpark, Pfizer, NW Natural.

Safeway partner sponsors include: Deschutes Brewery, Chateau St. Michelle, Miller Lite, Earth 2O, Pepsi, Snapple, Mission Foods, Dave’s Killer Bread, Rancher’s Reserve, Columbia Distributing, Frito Lay, Yoshida Sauce and Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream.