Countdown to New Orleans Running of the Santas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Steve Schulkens
504.401.6990
steve@schulkens.com

COUNTDOWN TO NEW ORLEANS RUNNING OF THE SANTAS
Inaugural Holiday Event to benefit scholarships for military family survivors

(NEW ORLEANS) One of the largest Christmas events in the country is coming to New Orleans this holiday season. Scat Back Productions is hosting the highly popular Running of the Santa on December 17, 2011, from Noon to Midnight in the citys popular Warehouse District.

Running of the Santas started in Philadelphia 13 years ago and is now held in 22 cities across the country. The event featuring a day-long festival and fun run attracted more than 6,000 participants from across the country to last years event in Philadelphia. On the day of the run, participants dressed in full Santa Claus costumes fill the streets and local establishments. Among the Santas are always plenty of Mrs. Clauses and the occasional Elf.

New Orleans day-long Running of the Santas festival will include three stages involving several restaurants and bars in the Warehouse District. Activities at Stage Two commence at 3 pm at the South Pole which will be set up at Ernst Caf, followed by a fun run starting at South Peters and Lafayette Streets at 6 pm. Runners and crawlers will make their way to the North Pole set up at Generations Hall at 310 Andrew Higgins Drive. Category 6, New Orleans newest party band, will provide the entertainment at Generations Hall till midnight.

Event sponsors are planning to set up several food booths at both venues as well as hold a Naughty Mrs. Claus contest, sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue later in the evening at Generations Hall.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at http://www.ticketfly.com/ or by visiting the Running of the Santas website at www.runningofthesantas.com/new-orleans. Advance VIP ticket prices start at $35 and General Admission tickets start at $15.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit That Others May Live Foundation. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2002. The foundation provides scholarships, family counseling, and aid to surviving children of United States Air Force (USAF) Rescue Heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice during a rescue mission. The goal of the program is to ensure every child of a fallen personnel recovery service member receives every opportunity for success.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the USAF Personnel Recovery total force team included units from the 347 Rescue Wing (now the 23rd Wing), the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command deployed to Jackson, MS. Those forces along with US Army and Coast Guard comprised Joint Task Force Katrina. During the days following the storm, Airmen from the 347th Expeditionary Rescue Group were credited with saving 4,306 lives in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.