PRESS RELEASE from The Stafford Foundation via PRNewswire-USNewswire

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Ted Kresse, +1-202-777-3719, tkresse@dcigroup.com, for The Stafford Foundation

Stafford Foundation Announces 'People's Inaugural Project' at Washington's Historic JW Marriott

Foundation extends invitations for hundreds of disadvantaged Americans to join festivities

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Stafford Foundation, a private foundation committed to helping underserved, marginalized and distressed individuals, has announced its unprecedented inauguration celebration plans at The JW Marriott Washington, D.C. hotel, located between the Capitol and the White House.

"Our foundation is thrilled about the unprecedented opportunity to bring Americans of every walk of life together for a momentous celebration," said Earl W. Stafford, Sr., who founded the Stafford Foundation in 2002. "We are committed to giving the underserved a chance to prosper and thrive, and these events will offer them a front-row seat to our nation's historic celebration in downtown Washington."

Thanks to the foundation's $1 million investment, participants will attend the events and stay at the JW Marriott free of charge. A third of the tickets for all the Stafford Foundation events will be distributed to hundreds of marginalized Americans who have demonstrated a positive example by embodying hope and facilitating change in their communities. The Marriott will serve as the central point to welcome the group of diverse people who come to celebrate America's new president.

Mr. Stafford added, "The People's Inaugural Project offers the underprivileged in our society a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come to our nation's capital and join in the watershed inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. It's a historic investment for our foundation."

The day's events will include:

-- Prayer Breakfast on the morning of January 19, which will provide hope and prayer for our country, its financial stability, our troops in battle and especially President-elect Barack Obama.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon on the afternoon of January 19, which will celebrate the realization of Dr. Martin Luther King's inspirational vision.

-- The People's Inaugural Ball on the evening of January 20, which will bring together citizens from all walks of life.

-- The Inaugural Youth Ball on the evening of January 20, which will allow the next generation of Americans to celebrate this historic event.

The Stafford Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 to help improve and lift up the lives of underprivileged citizens in America. They are focused on helping those who are marginalized and underserved in society, to help themselves and, in turn, help others. The Foundation is committed to all individuals regardless of race, religion, culture, nationality or ethnicity.

SOURCE The Stafford Foundation




PRESS RELEASE from Marriott International

Build Your Own $1 Million Inaugural Ball Package at the JW Marriott Washington, DC

CONTACT: 
Mark Indre
(202) 626-2600
mark.indre@marriott.com

Washington,  DC  -  13 October 2008 - 

For $1 million, one lucky group can be in the center of all the excitement, and create their own three-night Inaugural celebration, custom tailored to suit their needs.  Prominently staged on the hotel’s 7,300 sq. ft. 12th floor terrace, guests can enjoy premium views of Pennsylvania Avenue, the Inaugural procession, and the renowned sites of our nation’s capital, while protected from the harsh winter weather by a heated framed tent. The JW Marriott will assist in designing and decorating the tented space to fit the group’s desire. Whether it is a posh lounge, swanky clubhouse, casual sports bar, Polynesian paradise, or traditional inaugural flair, guests of the “Build your own Ball” package will witness history from a private terrace above the crowds. 

The “Build Your Own Ball” Inaugural package includes:
• Two Presidential Suites
• Two Vice Presidential Suites
• 300 guest rooms
• $200,000 in food and beverage
• Private access to the 12th floor balcony under a heated framed tent
• Custom tailored events to fit 450 people
• 24-hour Red Coat Service™
• 5% of proceeds will be donated to the Amazona Sustainable Foundation

The “Build Your Own Ball” Inaugural package is based on availability at the time of reservation and is on a first come first serve basis.  The package is available for three consecutive nights.  A non-refundable advance purchase is required.   All pricing is subject to applicable taxes and gratuities. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Other restrictions may apply. For reservations, please contact Rand Goodman at (202) 626-6901.

Situated at the corner of 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, steps away from the White House, National Mall, all of the historic landmarks in our nation’s capital; the JW Marriott Washington, D.C. was the first JW Marriott branded hotel.  It opened in 1984 as a tribute to J. Willard Marriott, the founder of Marriott Corporation, predecessor to Marriott International.  The hotel,  one the country’s premier meeting destinations, just completed a $33 million renovation to its guestrooms and lobby and features over 37,000 square feet of revitalized meeting space, including the 14,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, and 22 additional meeting rooms. 
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