CORTOPASSI/SPANOS BENEFIT RAISES RECORD DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR RESTORE THE DELTA. RESTORE THE DELTA PRESENTS DINO CORTOPASSI AND TOM ZUCKERMAN WITH DELTA ADVOCATE AWARDS FOR 2011. DOCUMENTARY SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Restore the Delta

10100 Trinity Pkwy, Suite 120                     

Stockton, CA 95219              

Email: Barbara@restorethedelta.org      

Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla                            Phone:209-479-2053

DATE: August 31, 2011

CORTOPASSI/SPANOS BENEFIT RAISES RECORD DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR RESTORE THE DELTA. RESTORE THE DELTA PRESENTS DINO CORTOPASSI AND TOM ZUCKERMAN WITH DELTA ADVOCATE AWARDS FOR 2011. DOCUMENTARY SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION.

Stockton, California – At the August 25, 2011 Restore the Delta Benefit hosted byDino and Joan Cortopassi and Alex and Faye Spanos over 600 people attended, raising over $640,000 for Restore the Delta to continue its advocacy work on behalf of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fisheries and communities.

According to Restore the Delta Executive Director Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla “The Cortopassi/Spanos Benefit for Restore the Delta was attended by perhaps one of the most politically diverse group of Californians working together presently in the State. From Assemblymember Bill Berryhill (R-26th District) to Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-11th District), from Delta farmers and business leaders to Delta environmentalists, all who attended our benefit recognize that the proposed peripheral canal, dressed up as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, will deal the final deathblow to the estuary, to our local economy, and to our way of life.”

At the event, State Senator (retired) Mike Machado presented Tom Zuckerman of the Central Delta Water Agency and Dino Cortopassi of San Tomo Group with Restore the Delta’s Delta Advocacy Award. As Senator Machado (ret.), now head of the Delta Protection Commission, explained, “This award is to honor Tom Zuckerman and Dino Cortopassi’s work to preserve, restore, and create a positive environmental future for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.”

In his remarks to the audience, Tom Zuckerman made note of the new generation of advocates prepared to defend the Delta for the future. Dino Cortopassi elaborated on several metaphors to explain how those who seek to take water out the Delta understand only limited parts of the region, but not how the Delta works as a whole.

Dino Corotopassi also gave special recognition to Central Delta Water Agency’s Dante Nomellini for his extraordinary efforts to bring community support to Restore the Delta.

Proceeds from the event will be used to cover staffing and general operating expenses for the next two to three years. Specifically, funds raised from the event will be used to complete the Open Ocean Productions film Over Troubled Waters – a documentary that looks at recent debates on the future of the Delta from multiple perspectives, including the Delta perspective.

Over Troubled Waters producer Russ Fisher says “You’ve probably heard the story of the Delta told by people who want to reshape it to take the water and create corporate wealth in other parts of California. So much of what you have heard is misleading, even wrong. That is the reason for making this documentary.”

To see a clip of Open Ocean Production’s documentary work to date, endorsements, and work in progress, visit the new documentary website www.overtroubledwaters.org.

Contributors are available for interviews.

                                      ##

Related Posts