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Bridgeport, CT -- The 2007
Barnum Festival is off to a
red hot, early start. Larry
Merriam, the Festival's 59th
Ringmaster, recently
announced the debut of
Barnum Festival wristbands.
These red plastic
wristbands, similar to the
Lance Armstrong live strong
bands, will be imprinted
with the wording, "2007
Barnum Festival - Helping
People with Disabilities."
A portion of the proceeds of
the wristband sales, which
cost $2 each, will benefit
The Kennedy Center and The Feroleto Children's
Development Center.
Brenda Kendall of Bridgeport
has agreed to head up a
large number of volunteers
who will make up this new
Barnum Festival committee.
The wristbands were formally
introduced on February 15 at
the Bridgeport Regional
Business Council's annual
State of the City Address by
Mayor Fabrizzi held at the
Bridgeport Holiday Inn.
In addition, wristbands will
be sold at all Barnum
Festival events, including
the parade and fireworks
extravaganza, plus at The
Kennedy Center and Feroleto
Center. A list of locations
where wristbands can be
purchased will be posted on
the Barnum Festival web site
www.BarnumFestival.com.,
which will be updated
regularly.
Duchess Restaurants is the
major sponsor of the
wristband program. "We are
delighted to be a part of
this new Barnum Festival
project which will benefit
the good works of The
Kennedy Center and The Feroleto Center," said
Michael Berkowitz of Easton,
Vice-President of Duchess
Restaurants.
Each wristband will be
packaged in a clear plastic
case and a backing card.
Each card will have a
coupon, which will entitle
the bearer to a $1 off
admission to any Barnum
Festival event. However,
there is a maximum of three
coupons redeemed per person
per event.
This year's ringmaster,
Larry Merriam, is a
Connecticut native. He
resides in Easton with his
wife Sheila. Together they
have seven children and
three grandchildren.
A prominent businessman and
long-time Festival volunteer
and supporter, he currently
is President of Key Auto
Group, which employs
approximately 130 people.
His auto dealerships are
located in Bridgeport,
Wallingford, Milford and
Branford, representing
Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Suzuki,
Ford and Lincoln Mercury. He
began working in the family
auto business over 38 years
ago.
Active in the community,
Merriam is a member of the
Board of Directors of the
Barnum Festival and The
Kennedy Center. In
addition, he served as
Chairman of the Barnum
Festival's Marketing
Committee and is currently
Treasurer of the Eastern
States Hyundai Dealer Ad
Association.
"Larry Merriam is a
well-known and
well-respected businessman
who is already bringing a
lot of energy and enthusiasm
to his new role as
ringmaster," said William
Murphy, the new Executive
Director of the Barnum
Festival. "He is a dynamic
person, who will inspire
strong support throughout
the region and state."
The Barnum Festival was
created in 1948 to make
people feel good about
celebrating the life and
times of P.T. Barnum, who
was born on July 5. More
than 20 annual Barnum
Festival events salute
Barnum and the people and
events that made him the
greatest showman on earth.
The mega-celebration
includes parades, concerts,
parties, drum corps and the
fireworks extravaganza at
Seaside Park.
For more information about
the Barnum Festival, please
call 203-367-8495 or visit
the web site at
www.BarnumFestival.com.
Background Information
about The Kennedy Center and
Feroleto Center:
The Kennedy Center is a
nationally accredited,
non-profit, community-based
rehabilitation organization
that currently serves over
1,500 individuals annually.
The agency actively responds
to the needs of the
community by offering
innovative, comprehensive
service options to persons
with disabilities and
special needs, from birth to
senior years. The Kennedy
Center operates 14 group
homes and a supported living
option program, 18 community
experience programs, an
industries program composed
of six businesses, supported
and competitive employment
and job placement services,
a family support and respite
service, travel training,
and a variety of children's
programs.
The Feroleto Children's
Development Center, which is
affiliated with St.
Vincent's Medical Center,
provides education and
therapy for developmentally
disabled infants and
children. They offer
childcare, a nursery school
program, after-school
recreational activities,
family education and support
for all children and
families, with and without
special needs.
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