Wireless provider and GumTree sign three-year sponsorship agreement
Tupelo, MS - March 30, 2004 – The GumTree Festival has selected Cellular South as the first title sponsor in its 33-year history, beginning with this year's event May 8-9 in Tupelo. The sponsorship agreement will continue through 2006.
"Naming a title sponsor is a big step for us, but one that we're excited about," said Tina Lutz, GumTree Museum of Art executive director. "The Cellular South GumTree Festival now benefits from the corporate resources that title sponsorship provides, freeing more of the festival's actual proceeds to support the museum year-round."
An outdoor celebration of the visual arts, music and writing on the lawn of the Lee County Courthouse in downtown Tupelo, the festival draws an average attendance of 30,000 and includes an original songwriters competition, 10K race and numerous youth art activities. Artists and crafts persons compete for a $15,000 award in a juried show during the festival.
Cellular South has supported the festival for several years as a sponsor, and has been seeking the opportunity to become the title sponsor for the last two years, said John Redmond, Cellular South area manager.
"The Cellular South GumTree Festival is a significant opportunity for us to contribute to the continuing success of a great event that makes a positive impact on the lives of everyone who enjoys the festival," added Redmond. "We are honored to be chosen as a partner by the GumTree Museum and are excited about the possibilities for growing the festival over the next three years."
The festival is one of the company's largest sponsorships in its market areas of Southwest Tennessee, the entire state of Mississippi, Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Walton County.
For more information, contact the GumTree Museum of Art at 662-844-2787.
About GumTree Museum of Art
The GumTree Museum of Art, Inc., formerly known as The Tupelo Artist Guild, Inc., was established as a non-profit corporation in 1982. The GumTree Museum of Art, a public visual arts gallery located in the original Peoples Bank and Trust Company, at 211 West Main Street in downtown Tupelo, opened in February 1985. The annual GumTree Festival provides financial support to the museum and its educational programs.
About Cellular South
The company is one of the largest privately held wireless providers in the U.S. and is licensed to provide wireless service - to a total population of more than five million people - on its network stretching from the Memphis Metropolitan Area, throughout all of Mississippi, along Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Destin/Seaside. Cellular South offers a different kind of wireless service based on the simple premise that customers have rights, including the right to a network that works, and service and pricing that is fair and makes sense. For more information, contact Cellular South at 1-877-CSOUTH1 or visit cellularsouth.com.
Contact:
Tanya Rankin, Cellular South (601) 974-7134 trankin@cellularsouth.com
