PortFest Founder: 'Day Was A Success'

PortFest 2013 filled Schreiber High School Saturday with a daylong celebration of the arts. And because of the rain, the entire festival was held indoors.  

PortFest was the second annual event produced by HEARTS (Helping Enrich The Arts), which supports arts education in the Port Washington Public School District.  

On Saturday, it seemed everyone – from sponsors, to artists to families – deemed the day a triumph, and that includes PortFest Founder Damon Gersh,  

“We don’t yet have a final tally,” he noted. Still, he added, “it appears like we will have achieved our goal of raising $50,000 at the end of the day, so the day was a success.”  

That puts the event $10,000 ahead of last year, when it grossed $40,000 and netted $20,000.  
Gersh said it was “difficult to know how many people attended” on Saturday, “but the school was full all day, so I believe 2,500-3,000 people came out on a rainy day to enjoy the festivities.”  

The festival also garnered about 10 more sponsors than last year, putting this years number of sponsors nearing 30.  

Originally, PortFest was to be held outdoors, but by Friday the weather forecast prompted event organizers to set up indoors. “Plan B,” as many were calling it, was well-organized and orderly, thanks to the festival’s team of volunteers. The event also had the full support of the Port Washington school district, including its Director of Creative Arts Sheri Suzzan. 

“We put that together on the fly,” Gersh said. “It comes from a place of enjoyment and passion. We do it because we love it.”  

Gersh added, “We're extremely grateful to everyone involved who helped make the day a success in support of creativity in our schools and community.”