The fourth annual PortFest will be held on May 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the campus of Paul D. Schreiber high school. The event will be completely outdoors, weather permitting. The event, a communitywide arts and music festival, is organized and hosted by HEARTS (Help Enrich the Arts of Port Washington). HEARTS is an independent, grassroots not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community organization whose mission is to add meaningful value to children’s lives and our community by supporting and enriching the arts in Port Washington and its’ public schools.
Damon Gersh, founder and chairperson of HEARTS, started PortFest because he believes passionately in the importance of arts in public schools. “The idea for PortFest came to me while I was meditating on the beach while on vacation in Montauk during the summer of 2010,” said Gersh. “I had reached a point in my life that I was looking for an opportunity to utilize my entrepreneurial experiences to help make a difference in the world. My wife Rachelle is a professional artist and I sing and play guitar. When we moved to town in 2004, we met all kinds of creative people including artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, photographers, etc. I recall feeling at the time they were like a vast untapped natural resource. In 2005, I started a band with other local musicians called Rock Steady, which has been a very fun and fulfilling experience. At that time, the national economy was in rough shape and school budgets everywhere were being cut. It’s almost cliché that music and arts programs get cut first when budgets take a hit and I thought there was something I could do to help make a difference and stand up for the arts as an important part of kids’ lives and the life of our community. When the idea for PortFest hit me, it seemed to capture everything I was looking for. Rachelle and I enjoy attending music festivals and it seemed like a fun way to celebrate and promote the local artists and musicians in Port Washington while also raising money to support music and arts programs in the schools.”
Gersh didn’t know what kind of reception he would get from the school district when he proposed his idea for PortFest. He contacted Sheri Suzzan, who was director of creative arts for Port schools at the time, and is now Daly’s principal. “The school board unanimously embraced the idea for PortFest and was totally supportive from day one,” said Gersh.
Stephanie Hall, a member of the board of directors of HEARTS, lives in Port Washington and graduated from Schreiber. “All of the board of directors lives in Port and all have some connection to the arts,” said Hall. “We all have a passion for the arts and Port Washington. Damon is entrenched in the community and has brought together an incredible group of people and built a great organization.”
HEARTS has a very organized, strong infrastructure to raise money and channel it into arts in Port public schools. Michelle Posner, HEARTS president, said, “For many years I was co-chair of the cultural arts committee at Daly where my kids were at school. Conversations started about putting together an organization in town that focused on raising funds for the arts in our schools. I was asked to get involved once it was formed, so I did. I became a founding board member. Then, in 2013, I became the president. My love of the arts and a deep devotion to our Port Washington community is the driving force for me behind my involvement with HEARTS. As president, I will continue to focus my time on expanding our fundraising efforts and help to continue to make the organization strong and set plans for future growth. The extraordinary results we have seen so far, with kids being exposed to areas of the arts that they would ordinarily not have the opportunity to be a part of, makes me realize that we are doing something right.”
Some of the many food vendors that are participating this year are Ralph’s Italian Ices, Crazy Cakes Company food truck, Rosie’s Food Truck, Gino’s Pizzeria, Coffeed and Delicacies of Roslyn. “PortFest reaches everyone in the community,” said Hall. “Each school has a tent with a creative project. Wright Music had a ‘try out the instruments’ tent last year. There’s music, art, literature and dance by Olga of Berest Dance Center.”
Councilwoman Dina DeGiorgio said, “I’d like to encourage the whole Port Washington community to come out and support PortFest 2015, sponsored by HEARTSPW. Now in its 4th year, the funds raised through PortFest have a huge impact on supporting the arts in our schools, which is so important for our children. It’s also a great time for kids of all ages. I’m pleased that the TONH is continuing as a sponsor for this incredibly worthwhile and unique community festival.”
“Starting PortFest and the community organization HEARTS with Sheri Suzzan has exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The funds raised since the first PortFest have been able to fund new music and arts program grants for the students in the Port Washington school district,” said Gersh. “PortFest and HEARTS have created a platform for other community-minded and creative people who share a passion for the arts to come together and help make a difference together.”
Parking and admission are free. Tickets are sold for activities. There are silent raffles. Check out www.pwportfest.org for information about volunteering, donating and advertising.
