LANCASTER – Boeing employees Stacia Wilkerson, Shelley Jacobson, Yolanda England-Gold and Anthony Achimasi, recently handed a check for $6,000 to City of Lancaster Operations Manager and Poppy Festival organizer Jeff Campbell.
The donation came from the Boeing Employees Community Fund (ECF) to help cover the cost of this past Poppy Festival’s Exotic Animal/Rain Forest display. Live animals and four daily educational shows were part of the exhibit at the 22nd Annual California Poppy Festival, which took place on April 20 and 21. This year’s Poppy Festival drew more than 45,500 festival-goers to Lancaster City Park.
“This is our way of giving back to the community. Everyone loves the California Poppy Festival. Not only does it provide two days of fun and entertainment for those who live in the community, it also draws many people from outside the area,” commented Shelley Jacobson. “Investing funds in this venue to educate people of all ages on the importance of exotic animals and their habitat is a great way to reach many and celebrate Earth Day.”
Nature enthusiasts were not the only ones who benefitted from Boeing’s contribution. To ensure local youths also benefitted, the City of Lancaster distributed 1,500 tickets to elementary schools throughout the Antelope Valley on behalf of the Boeing Employees Community Fund for admission to the California Poppy Festival.
“We’re simply paying it forward. The wonderful people at Boeing help us put together a great nature exhibit every year with their donation. In turn, we make sure our local youth have an opportunity to attend the Festival and benefit from the education these funds help to provide,” remarked Jeff Campbell.
Every year, Boeing employees make contributions to the ECF, which are used toward community-centered events such as the Poppy Festival.
“We are all happy to give what we can to help better the community in which we live and work. It is our pleasure at Boeing to be able to pool funds together that make a real difference to those around us,” commented Stacia Wilkerson.
For more information about the California Poppy Festival, visit the City of Lancaster’s website at www.cityoflancasterca.org, or contact Jeff Campbell directly at 661-723-6075.
(Information via press release from the City of Lancaster.)
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