AD HOC COMMITTEE, 22nd ANNUAL FM 1960 ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

16650 Sugar Pine Lane

Houston, TX 77090

The Green of St. Patrick's Parade
Nets CCEMS 11,000 Greenbacks

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 8, 1999

Contact: H. Tony DeHaas
281-353-4200 or tony@dehaas.com

SPRING, TX — The 21st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade this year on FM 1960 was hit with extraordinary expenses, but still managed to donate $11,000 to the Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS).

The check was presented today (July 8) to CCEMS.

Juanita Davis, chairperson of the parade Ad Hoc Committee, was both disillusioned and heartened by the contribution.

"We ended up paying out almost $30,000 for unanticipated expenses, yet we were still able to provide CCEMS with $11,000 for the critical purchase of First Out kits," Davis said. "Our mission for next year is to cut those expenses to allow more of the proceeds to go to our beneficiary CCEMS. Hopefully, in view of the expenses incurred last year, we will have more public support through donations to cover those expenses."

The committee has raised approximately $71,000 for CCEMS over the last six years. The proceeds will be purchase primarily First Out kits, used by the responding volunteers to any emergency.

The extra expenses this year included almost $9,000 for 80 uniformed officers from the sheriff's department and Precinct 4 constable, $7,500 for street barricades, and $1,300 for a computer-generated traffic plan. In addition, almost $7,000 was needed to repair golf carts (rented for crowd control) that were vandalized just before the parade, and $5,000 for raffle prizes that the committee expected to be donated.

The parade was held March 14 with more than 120 units participating in the two-hour event.

"This is the 1960 area's only community-wide celebration all year long," Ms. Davis noted. "It's like a celebration of life when it comes to the impact that CCEMS has in helping to maintain a safe and secure community.

"The lifestyles of 450,000 residents in this area is enhanced through the efforts of the staff and volunteers of CCEMS. It's in our best interest to show our support by helping to provide them with the best technology possible in their efforts."

Parade officials estimated 50,000 spectators along the 3-1/2 mile parade route on FM 1960 between Champions Forest Drive and Kuykendahl.

Major parade sponsors were Grand Sponsor Houston Distributing Company (Miller Beer); Emerald Sponsors Hillman International Brands (Coors Beer), Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center 3 Cheers, Acadia Bar, Inc., Ashbury's Hospitality Corp. Inc., Champions Chiropractic Clinic, Champions Printing & Publishing Inc., Greenwood Insurance Group, Inc., Jim Kelly's Ice Tee, LLC, Matthias Enterprises, Inc., Patti's Place, the Pour House and Texas National Manufacturing.

Other sponsor include Gold Sponsors Applied Cadd Technology Inc., Billings Jewelry, DeHaas Associates Marketing Communications, HL&P, HomeSource of Houston, Rengo Imports, Southwest Magik Seal and Tom Stewart State Farm Insurance; Silver Sponsors Bayside Printing, McLaren’s Antiques and Gifts, Sign Salon and Sterling Bank. Official radio sponsors for the event were 93Q Country and KLOL.

Committee members are Juanita Davis (Chairperson), H. Tony DeHaas (marketing, public relations), Brad England (CCEMS executive director), Josh Fetner (parade entries), Rod Hudson (parade set up & routing), Lou O'Bresly (sponsorships and special events), Claire Senglin (CCEMS) and Dr. L. Bert Williams (judging).

CCEMS is a volunteer-based organization with funding coming primarily from individuals, monthly water bills and third party billing. In 1998, the 365 volunteers and 62 staff members of CCEMS responded to 13,902 emergency calls, with an average response time of 6 minutes 41 seconds. The area served by CCEMS covers approximately 250 square miles in the FM 1960 area. Approximately 450,000 people live and work within the CCEMS service area.

-Pat00nr2-