Venice Music Festival ~ Sunday September 17th

The Venice Community Housing Corporation will host the Venice Music Festival on Sunday, September 17, 2006.

A trio of annual events includes brunch, a silent auction, plus the Festival's concert will raise money for the VCHC’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing, social and family support services to low-income families and at-risk youth in Los Angeles.

In celebration of the diverse character of Venice, the theme of the Music Festival will be “World Music.”

The Festival will begin at 1:00pm and continue until 6:00pm in an expanded performance space around the Palms Court, located at 733-743 Palms Blvd. A suggested donation of $20 is requested for the Venice Music Festival.

Scheduled to perform at the Venice Music Festival are:

* Kwanza Jones with the Global Groove Collective, an energetic band that combines various genres of world music with Western styles, such as rock, soul and alternative.

* Afrobeat Down, L.A.'s Premier Afrobeat Ensemble, delivers driving, raw, un-cut African Funk, making the audience move and shake to the rhythms of Nigeria circa 1970.

* Argentinean rockers “Los Pinguos,” who will be sure to have the audience dancing with their mixture of Latin rhythms, performed with Spanish guitars, a Cuban Tres, Peruvian cajón (box-drum) and harmonizing vocals.

Brunch guests will enjoy delicious gourmet fare generously donated and prepared by Venice’s own Off the Wall Catering and the cool jazz tunes of the Richard Glaser Quartet.This Champagne Brunch is the talk of the Westside of Los Angeles each fall and is always sold out. The brunch will begin at 11:00 am at the Palms Court and tickets are $100 per person, which includes entry to the Venice Music Festival.

The Silent Auction will be set up along Palms Blvd. in front of the courts from 11 am to 5 pm. The silent auction items are available for online bidding on August 23 at www.vchcauction.cmarket.com. Online bidding will close on Friday, September 16th. Many of the items available for bidding, including art, restaurant gift certificates, personal and professional services, were donated by VCHC Board members and supporters.

Founded in 1988, VCHC’s mission is to preserve, maintain and expand affordable housing opportunities for low-income people; provide economic development opportunities and support services; and preserve the economic, racial, and social diversity of Venice. Among the programs VCHC offers are:

* Affordable Housing Program – development and maintenance of affordable housing

* Infant Toddler Development Center in cooperation with St. Joseph’s Center – provides child care for children ages 3 months to 3 years

* CommunityWorks for Kids, provides after school arts and recreation activities for at-risk children ages 6-9

* L.A. Bridges – gang prevention program which provides after school activities, tutoring, mentoring and leaderships skills for Mark Twain Middle School students ages 10-14

* Venice YouthBuild – construction job training program for at-risk young adults ages 17-24

* HandyWorker – provides free home repairs to low-income elderly and disabled homeowners

* Law and Justice Programs at Venice High School, provides Teen Court, Truancy Reduction and Law Club More information about VCHC is available at www.vchcorp.org.