22 April 2012
Nicholas Sparks Hosts a weekend of spectacular events in his hometown, New Bern, North Carolina, in Support of The Nicholas Sparks Foundation
Weekend to include a special screening of “The Lucky One” as part of the Nicholas Sparks inaugural Celebrity Family Weekend celebration April 20-22, 2012
The beautiful riverside town best known to Nicholas Sparks fans as the backdrop for The Notebook is the setting for a star-studded weekend to raise awareness and funds for the Nicholas Sparks Foundation. From April 20- 22, in New Bern, NC, Nicholas Sparks and his family hosted the first annual Celebrity Family Weekend, welcoming stars from the worlds of sports, music, movies and television, along with fans, for a full calendar of events, including a celebrity golf tournament, a 5K run, boat tours and a family fun night.
A highlight of the weekend was an exclusive screening of the upcoming Warner Bros. movie, The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron, and based on the Sparks novel of the same name. Hosted by Sparks, the red carpet, invitation-only event was the evening of Friday, April 20 in downtown New Bern and included members of the military and their families as special guests.
The weekend’s proceeds will benefit the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, which supports global education initiatives for youth through the Epiphany School in New Bern, NC, wounded warriors through Hope for the Warriors, and assistance dogs for people with disabilities through Paws With a Cause. “I’m excited to welcome friends and fans from far and near to join us in helping to raise awareness and funds for the charities my family and I cherish so deeply,” said Sparks. “Beyond the events, I know people will enjoy all that New Bern has to offer.” The first colonial capitol of North Carolina and the birthplace of Pepsi, the weekend’s presenting sponsor, New Bern is in the eastern part of North Carolina, close to the beaches of the inner banks. New Bern sits at the convergence of two beautiful rivers, offers spectacular gardens, historic homes, quaint shops, cozy restaurants and lively entertainment.
The Nicholas Sparks Foundation
The Nicholas Sparks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages, as well as support of organizations dedicated to helping communities and people in need. Over the years, Nicholas Sparks and his family have donated nearly $10,000,000 to local, regional and national causes, while ensuring that fundraising and administrative expenses were kept to less than 1% of that total. In the fall of 2011, the Nicholas Sparks Foundation was formed to expand the philanthropy of the Sparks family. Sparks's hope is that friends and fans will be equally inspired to contribute and help make an impact on the world.
The public can purchase tickets for all events through the Nicholas Sparks Celebrity Family Weekend website at www.sparksevent.org.