The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and 20 Hispanic-owned businesses have joined the list of sponsors for Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell’s First Day Festival.
The festival, now in it’s fifth year, is a free event celebrating the start of the school year. Its 127 sponsors help foot the bill for the festival’s activities and hand-outs, which include school supplies and informational materials.
At a press conference yesterday, Hispanic Chamber President Yuri Cunza said he’s glad his organization was invited to sponsor the event.
“I think it gives us a great opportunity to show how important is also for us to be part of the community and to fuel that interaction and to invigorate familial relations.”
The Hispanic businesses that signed as sponsors also plan to allow employees time off to accompany their children to school on the first day. Mayor Purcell says that policy makes good sense.
“Every business that has thought this issue through realizes that letting their employees off is good for their children, is good for the community, but perhaps as importantly is good for the business. Parents who know their children are safe and starting school right are happier and more productive employees.”
Metro students return to school on Monday. The Mayor’s First Day Festival takes place Sunday afternoon at Gaylord Entertainment Center.
Vandana Atreya contributed to this article.
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