Press Release 4

Press Release

7/27/2007

Preserve Brings Actor John Corbett to Skatepark/Trail Fundraiser 8/25/07

$100,000 home site, celebrity items up for absolute auction.

FAYETTEVILLE, WV -- The New River Gorge Preserve is bringing actor/ musician John Corbett to perform in Fayetteville Saturday evening, August 25 as part of a fundraising benefit on the Preserve’s New River Gorge rim.

Corbett’s performance will cap a day of activities designed to raise funds in support of building a professionally designed skatepark in Fayetteville Town Park, and to seed a preliminary design study for a network of long-distance hiking/biking trails connecting towns in southern West Virginia.

“These are two ambitious projects,” says Fayetteville Mayor James Akers. A skatepark will be great for the region’s residents and guests, and a long-distance trail network connecting West Virginia towns will be a tremendous tourism asset.”

Fayetteville developer Gary Driggs is hosting the event, and has donated a home site in the Bridgeview neighborhood of the New River Gorge Preserve valued at $100,000. The property will be offered in an “absolute” auction, which means there is no set minimum bid, and the property could go for little more than the price of the $100 event ticket.

The day’s schedule includes tours of a showcase house filled with art and craft produced by West Virginians, hiking on natural surface trails designed by nationally recognized trail authority Troy Scott Parker, and afternoon entertainment by a variety of musicians from around the region. Top quality outdoor gear by such manufacturers as Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond will be among prizes distributed to ticket holders.

Actor John Corbett appeared in 22 episodes of Sex and the City as Aidan Shaw, the love interest of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw. He also starred as Ian Miller in the 2002 independent film hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and in Northern Exposure, an early 1990s TV series set in Alaska in which he played a DJ from West Virginia. The Wheeling, WV native has spent most of this year touring with his band in Europe, Hawaii, and the continental U.S., performing rollicking country rock by such Nashville song crafters as Hal Ketchum, Darrel Scott, Tim Nichols, Rivers Rutherford, Mark Selby, and Jon Randall.

The absolute auction will be held immediately before the evening concert. In addition to the New River Gorge Preserve home site, bidders will have opportunities to buy collectibles associated with West Virginia’s entertainment and sports stars. Autographed items from actors Jennifer Garner and Josh Stewart, and New England Patriot Randy Moss are among items up for auction.

Also on the auction block will be items designed by Oscar de la Renta, donated by a West Virginia member of the designer’s family.

Catered lunch and dinner by Rezan's Restaurant of Fayetteville are part of the day’s activities. Tickets for adults age 18 and older are $100.00 each. Children 17 and younger accompanied by a parent or guardian can attend at no charge. Tickets must be bought in advance.