Students present a “thank-you” banner to SAVOR…Long Beach representatives Friday, April 15, during their visit to the aquarium thanks to sponsorship by the local business. From left,Wes Westley, president and CEO of SMG, SAVOR…Long Beach’s parent company; Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; Veronica Quintero, regional general manager of SAVOR; Shaun Beard, senior vice president of SAVOR; and students from Mann Elementary School in Long Beach. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific.12:51pm | More than 500 students from area schools visited the Aquarium of the Pacific Friday thanks to sponsorship by a local business, and the aquarium, in turn, honored the catering company by naming a classroom after the business.
SAVOR…Long Beach, a local catering company, contributed to the aquarium’s scholarship fund for the ninth consecutive year. Marilyn Padilla, a spokeswoman for the aquarium, said that since 2003, more than 11,000 students have taken part in the SAVOR…Long Beach/Grand Prix scholarship program, with more than $128,000 in scholarship funds awarded.
The aquarium was closed to the public Friday, as it is every year during race weekend, allowing the students to have the entire facility all to themselves. This made the ocean educational programs the students participated in that much more meaningful.
“We are grateful for SAVOR’s crucial role in bringing environmental education to students,” said Jerry R. Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO, in a statement. “We’re delighted to be able to introduce the students to the wonders of marine life and to help them learn how they can protect our ocean.”
To show its appreciation during the students’ visit, the aquarium dedicated on Friday one of its classrooms in honor of the catering company for its “continued commitment to sustainability and education,” Padilla said.
Both Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Wes Westley, president of SMG, SAVOR…Long Beach’s parent company, were on hand as the classroom was ceremoniously named “The SAVOR Watershed Classroom.”
SAVOR…Long Beach and the aquarium have had a working relationship for years. In addition to fulfilling the aquarium’s food service and event and needs, the catering company has played a major role in the facility’s development, Padilla said.
Veronica Quintero, regional general manager of SAVOR…Long Beach, said the company’s relationship with the aquarium promotes environmental awareness.
“Through our ongoing involvement with the aquarium, we are able to help further environmental awareness, whether it’s through empowering students through field trips or supporting educational exhibitions,” said Quintero said.
Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO Jerry R. Schubel, second from right, is joined by LOng Beach mayor Bob Foster, right, as he unveils a new plaque outside of a classroom the aquarium dedicated Friday, April 15, in honor of local catering company SAVOR…Long Beach, which has for the last nine years donated more than $125,000 to fund scholarships for students to visit the facility during Grand Prix weekend. At left are Wes Westley, president and CEO of SMG, SAVOR…Long Beach’s parent company, and Veronica Quintero, SAVOR’s regional general manager. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific.