Sponsorships available

**Pictured are some scenes from last year’s Immigrant Heritage Festival.** File Photos by Gordon Wolf

The third annual Immigrant Heritage Festival in Denison has been set for Saturday, June 29. It will kick off with a parade at 2 p.m., with the lineup prior to that on 1st Avenue North by the post office.

The parade route will end at Washington Park where recreational activities for all ages, food sales and entertainment will be featured.

Alma Puga, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said that the board members organizing the Immigrant Heritage Festival decided to extend the date for sponsorship checks until April 30.

Although the letters sent to LULAC sponsors request between $500 and $2,000, sponsors can donate whatever they wish to.

“Most businesses that have already sent their sponsorship have sent $500. The most important thing is that everyone participates with what they can,” said Puga. “They can send $150, $200, $300 or other amounts. We think something is better than nothing. So please participate with what you can.”

She added, “The important thing is that you help us because this money is not only for the festival but also goes towards scholarships for students.”

Businesses that cannot donate money for a sponsorship are asked to consider an in-kind donation.

“These can be gifts such as basic food baskets, sporting goods, meats, bicycles or any other item we can raffle in the silent auction we conduct during the festival,” Puga said.

Currently, LULAC does not have any items available yet for the auction. In previous years, businesses have given bicycles, household items and gift cards.

As of the newspaper’s deadline, the festival is still looking for a major sponsor.

Among the new entertainment scheduled for the festival are a German-American group from Omaha and an Asian-American Lion dance group from Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Puga encouraged the community to participate in the parade either with an entry or as a spectator and to take in the games, food and entertainment that will be at Washington Park.

“This activity is for everyone who wants to show a little of their heritage's traditional pride,” she said.

People who want to participate in the parade can call Puga at 712-267-4891.

So far 10 businesses have registered to be vendors at Washington Park but there is room for more. The fee is $35 for a vendor that is not selling food products and $85 for food vendors. Food vendors must have a public health license.

Denison LULAC will send a portion of the festival’s net proceeds to National LULAC, which will return the money with 60% added.

"This money will be distributed among the five scholarships that our organization will award to the students selected by our committee,” said Puga.

The scholarships are awarded at the senior awards day at Denison High School.

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