More Volunteer Signups Scheduled for San Diego Pride Celebration

A number of volunteer positions are available for July's San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride weekend, scheduled for July 21-22. The celebration attracts each year more than 700 volunteers for areas such as ticket sales, parade support, beer garden, setup, medical, safety and more. Volunteer crewmembers who work a five-hour shift at either the parade or festival will receive two-day festival admission, a meal ticket per shift, a souvenir T-shirt, and an appreciation BBQ scheduled for Aug. 12.

Those interested can sign up on the Pride web site at www.sdPride.org or attend one of the Saturday afternoon volunteer sign up sessions in The Center's auditorium, located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest. The next sessions will be held on June 16 and June 30, both scheduled for 12:00 noon. The June 16 session will include free pizza and soda for the first 100 signups, and the latter session offers American Sign Language services.

"Volunteers can select their preferred shifts and the areas in which they would like to work, either online or by attending one of the sessions," said Patty Zwolinski, volunteer coordinator for Pride.

"Pride is successful because we have a very supportive business community and a supportive corps of volunteers.Dedicated volunteers have played a significant role in helping to raise over one million dollars, which San Diego LGBT Pride has distributed to non-profit community organizations since 1996," says Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride. "Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, get directly involved with the Pride celebration and help to make a difference in our community."

This year's theme is "United forEquality." The festivities include a Spirit of Stonewall celebration in Balboa Park on July 15 in the Organ Pavilion at 3:30 after the organ concert, a mile-long parade down University Avenue in Hillcrest at 11 a.m., July 21, and a two-day festival on July 21-22 featuring multiple performance stages, expanded beer gardens and a host of new attractions.

For more informationplease visit the Pride website at www.SanDiegoPride.org, or call 297-7683.