Funds support 220 events, projects focused on arts, education, environment

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved 220 sponsorships totaling $895,200, the second-largest award in a single call to date. The Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program funds community events and activities that help inform residents about the Port. The awards will support a diverse variety of community nonprofits centered on the environment, education, social justice, the arts and historic preservation.

This award is the second of three calls of the fiscal year of 2024; of the applications, 42% were first-time requests. To satisfy demand for community funding, the Board approved a $2 million sponsorship budget for the 2024 fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

The next open application period for sponsorships will be May 1-31; find out more at polb.com/sponsorship.

“Supporting community nonprofits is an important part of our mission,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We are proud to strengthen our commitment to the community each year as we fund new events and programs.”

“These dedicated nonprofit groups host a wide variety and range of projects and events all over Long Beach – how extraordinary our community is,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “They are doing important work and we’re proud to help support their missions.”

Among the events and programs sponsored in this week’s awards are the Children’s Theatre of Long Beach’s “Pirates of Penzance,” the Cambodia Town Film Festival, and Willmore City Heritage Association’s Earth Day Festival.

A list of the approved sponsorships can be found here. The Port accepts sponsorship applications three times a year, in January, May, and September.