WPCNR CITY LIMITS. From the Mayor's Office and Reporting by John F. Bailey. January 11, 2004: In the week leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday celerbration, the City of White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino and Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz have announced an eleventh hour appeal yesterday for ticket purchases to support a concert, featuring world renowned gospel singer Vickie Winans to be held at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on January 21, 2005 to benefit the City’s first Juneteenth Heritage Parade and Festival.

WPCNR has learned that advance ticket sales for the event celebrating African-American heritage and the final freeing of the slaves are lagging embarrassingly behind expectations due to by a lack of support by White Plains Corporations,  and the usual movers and shakers.

The Who's Who of Corporate White Plains who usually sponsor everything in the city from New Year's Eve Balldrops to St. Patrick's Day Parades to Hispanic Day Parades have not responded with their usual largesse they have shown for other, perhaps less meaningful events: the July 4th fireworks display, and the New Year's Eve Balldrop, and the Samaritan House bailout. Perhaps the onslaught of galas and fundraisers (an averge of one-a-week) have finally topped out Westchester's giving spirit.

The Juneteenth Legacy

 “Juneteenth” commemorates the final implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation by the Union Army on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas almost 2 ½ years after the proclamation was issued. 

In the years that followed, “Juneteenth” provided an opportunity for African-Americans to celebrate their freedom as a people. Now, Juneteenth will offer residents of White Plains a day to celebrate the cultural, economic, and social achievements of African-Americans in White Plains, and in the nation.

“The strength of our community lies in its diversity,” said Mayor Joseph Delfino, honorary co-chair of the Juneteenth Parade Committee. “This will be the biggest celebration of African-American heritage in Westchester County, and the first of its kind in the City of White Plains. I’m honored and excited to be a part of it.”

Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz added, "We are very excited about the concert, as it will be the highlight of a series of events commemorting Juneteenth."

Bronz also commented that at the February 7, 2005 meeting, the County Board of Legislators will pay tribute to Juneteenth for the first time.

The White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee is in the process of raising enough revenue to underwrite a Juneteenth Parade and Festival to be held in June 2005.

$22 G's to go.

To date, according to WPCNR information from informed sources familiar with the funds raised to date,  only $8,000 has been raised towards the $30,000 total needed to stage the parade, and the Committee is counting on a brisk sale of tickets in the next week  for the January 21 event.  The event has been in the planning for seven months, with fund-raising efforts to date lagging behind expectations. The Mayor's effort and Legislator Bronz's comments hopefully will make the event a success, but apparently, according to sources close to the action -- or lack of it -- sponsors are needed desperately.

Privately, WPCNR has been informed none of the usual first-to-give corporate sponsors have purchased block tickets to the Performing Arts Center event either to use for themselves or to give away to community groups who cannot afford the $100-a-ducat price -- far below the going rate for more toney galas.

At $100 a ticket and 400 seats at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a sellout would easily fund the parade. It has not been determined whether the Performing Arts Center is charging the Committee for the use of the hall which is $400 for four hours plus technicians and crew, or is waiving the usual production fee for this first-ever cause.

The Gospel Concert will be held on Friday, January 21, 2005, and will feature performances by the 90-member strong Union Baptist Church Mass Choir, and a headlining performance by world renowned gospel singer, Vickie Winans. The tax deductible tickets cost $100 and will go directly to the Juneteenth Parade and Festival.

For more information about the parade and festival or to purchase tickets, please contact the White Plains Recreation and Parks Department at (914) 422-1336.