NSTAR Donates 1,000 Free Pops Tickets

250 Local Families to be Served

Centerville, MA, July 5, 2005 - Thanks to a generous donation from NSTAR Electric & Gas, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) announced today that 1,000 free TD Banknorth Pops by the Sea concert tickets will be made available to 250 local families. This special program involves nonprofit health and human services agencies across the Cape and will provide family lawn seating for two adults and two children (a $50 value) to the 20th annual Pops by the Sea concert scheduled for Sunday, August 7, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. The concert will be held at the Hyannis Village Green, featuring the only Cape Cod appearance by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with conductor Keith Lockhart and special guest conductor Jack Klugman.

“We are excited to serve as a Gold corporate sponsor of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and we are especially proud to be the sole corporate underwriter of the 2005 Pops by the Sea free family ticket program. Twice as many non-profit organizations are participating this year. This program will provide an afternoon of quality entertainment to 250 deserving Cape Cod families,” remarked Jeffrey Luce, NSTAR Regional Community Relations Officer. “And NSTAR Electric & Gas is equally thrilled to be a part of this cooperative effort between the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and the Cape's local health and human services organizations.”

“This is a wonderful program to make the music of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra accessible to Cape families,” said AFCC President, Margaret Van Sciver. “We are very appreciative to NSTAR Electric & Gas for making this program possible and to all our corporate sponsors for their generous support in bringing the Boston Pops to Cape Cod. We are very proud of the AFCC’s tradition of collaboration with local health and human services agencies as we work together to improve the quality of life for those living on and visiting the Cape.”

The free tickets will be initially available through 20 participating organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod, The Boys and Girls Club of Cape Cod, Cape and Islands Boy Scout Council, Cape Cod Child Development, Cape Cod Children's Place, Cape Cod Human Services, Inc., Cape Cod Literacy Council, Cape Head Injured Persons’ Housing and Education Group, Inc., Cape Regency Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Children’s Cove, Girl Scout Council of Southeastern Massachusetts, Gosnold on Cape Cod, Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts, Independence House, Legal Services for Cape, Plymouth and the Islands, Inc., Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children – Cape & Islands Chapter, Outer Cape Health Services, Safe Harbor, Sight Loss Services, and the YMCA of Cape Cod. Other nonprofit health and human services organizations that wish to participate may apply for inclusion in this program by sending an e-mail to the AFCC at NSTARfamilytix@artsfoundation.org