[Above photo: Seatack Elementary students participated in drumming and singing circles with Giving Tree Music]
Fueling good for the fourth consecutive year, CITGO Petroleum Corporation and local petroleum marketer PAPCO Inc. recently teamed up to bring “Books and Beats” to the Virginia Beach community. With books provided by the mobile literacy program Bess the Book Bus and beats provided by drumming and singing organization Giving Tree Music, both children and adults came away with big smiles from Seatack Elementary and the 42nd Annual Neptune Festival.
Prior to the community festival, more than 400 students at Seatack Elementary, an Achievable Dream Academy and Title 1 school, climbed aboard Bess the Book Bus to choose their very own free, brand new books. Afterward, they also participated in interactive drumming and singing circles to help foster a musical foundation and a sense of empowerment and self-worth.
“We so appreciate any chance for our children to experience unique and engaging opportunities like this,” said Vincent Darby Sr., Principal, Seatack Elementary.
Patti Porter, Assistant Principal, added “This was such great fun for these kids. They so deserve it.”
Since Jennifer Frances founded the program in 2002, Bess the Book Bus has traveled across the country visiting schools, community centers and libraries, distributing approximately 500,000 free books to more than 100,000 children in need. Virginia Beach marked the final stop of the Book Bus’ 2015 tour, supported by CITGO.
Both Bess the Book Bus and Giving Tree Music also participated in the annual Neptune Festival, however, a pending hurricane forced a change in venue. The Virginia Beach Convention Center hosted the festival’s Art and Craft Show, featuring more than 240 artists from around the world. More than 1,500 attendees participated in the drum circles with Giving Tree Music, and approximately 900 of those participants were children who also received books from Bess the Book Bus. Attendees were also encouraged to download and “check-in” with the Club CITGO mobile app for the chance to receive a $5 CITGO Gift Card. Other activities included a prize wheel, face painting, giveaways and much more.
“Bess the Book Bus and The Giving Tree Music program have a real positive impact on kids,” said Frank Daniels, PAPCO Director of Marketing. “It is a privilege to partner with CITGO in ways that offer such a deserving group of students and staff, as well as the attendees at the Neptune Festival, the opportunity to experience these programs. Being part of the Neptune Festival each year is the perfect way for us to support this local community that means so much to us.”
In addition to the Art and Craft Show, the Festival also included its signature event – Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Competition – as well as the Neptune 5K and 8K and Festival headlining bands Eric Lindell, the Marshall Tucker Band and Dumpstaphunk. As a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer board of directors, the Neptune Festival is focused on serving the City of Virginia Beach.
