George Wein Announces Sponsorship Opportunities for 2011 Newport Jazz Festival

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second time in 25 years, the world-famous Newport Jazz Festival is available for title sponsorship. Founded by George Wein in 1954, the festival was sponsored by JVC for 23 years, followed by CareFusion for the past two years.

CareFusion also sponsored the New York festival in 2010, and a sponsorship package is available for both events. For more information on various packages, contact New Festival Productions at [email protected].

"I am grateful for the two years that CareFusion sponsored the Newport as well as their one year affiliation with our festival in New York," said George Wein, jazz impresario and festival producer. "I am also thankful to Ronda Thomas of The Exordium Group, who created the jazz sponsorship strategy for CareFusion," said Wein. "CareFusion came forward at a very crucial time when my company was facing decisions about the future of this historic event. They understood the worldwide appeal of jazz and tapped into its magic to launch their brand, and we're pleased that jazz helped to make the company a household name."

"Through our successful partnership with George Wein, we were able to substantially increase awareness of CareFusion and our commitment to patient safety," said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO of CareFusion. "It was our pleasure to sponsor the Newport and New York jazz festivals, and work with the jazz community to bring great music to thousands of jazz fans over the past two years."

"The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series was designed to launch the CareFusion brand and support the arts at a critical economic time," said Ronda Thomas, president and CEO of The Exordium Group, the agency responsible for the award-winning experiential marketing program. "We were proud to associate CareFusion with jazz luminaries around the world to deliver an international program with unprecedented results. The Newport Jazz Festival was the ultimate lynch pin in the success of the program and we owe a debt of thanks to George Wein and the jazz community," said Thomas.

Set for August 5 - 7, 2011 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino and Fort Adams State Park, the Newport Jazz Festival will bring instantaneous worldwide recognition to the company that sponsors this renowned music event.

The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series ultimately generated in excess of 2 billion measured media impressions and drove over 6 billion impressions in leading international media, creating significant brand awareness for CareFusion after its launch as a spin off from Cardinal Health.

"Any organization that gets involved with the jazz festival in Newport will enjoy a newsworthy celebration of America's music. The sponsorship fee is attractive and the benefits are immediate and substantial. We look forward to building new relationships as we continue to bring great music to Newport," Wein said.

The Newport Jazz Festival will feature many of the world's great jazz names over three days on multiple stages. Artists will be announced by early April.

Over the past 56 years, the Newport Jazz Festival has featured Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday as well as contemporary artists including Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis and Diana Krall.

About George Wein and New Festival Productions

George Wein followed the success of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 with the Newport Folk Festival in 1959. He went on to produce thousands of diverse events around the world, and at 85, he continues to present quality, top-selling music events. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter honored George Wein on the 25th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and in 1993, President Bill Clinton held a White House jazz festival in honor of the festival's 40th Anniversary. Wein has been honored by heads of state, including France's Legion d'Honneur, educational institutions and leading publications. In January, 2005, he was recognized as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts; in 2010, he was honored with the Pell Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts. Wein pioneered the concept of sponsor association with music events, giving the sponsor the title presentation that guaranteed mention of the company's name in publicity and promotion. The Schlitz Salute to Jazz and the Kool Jazz Festivals preceded any other sponsor identity with jazz events. Wein went on to produce the Mellon Jazz Festival, Benson & Hedges Blues Festival, Essence Music Festival and Verizon Music Festival, among others.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities for the Newport and New York jazz festivals, please contact New Festival Productions at [email protected].

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SOURCE Newport Jazz Festival