Univest In The News
Univest Grand Prix To Host Weekend Of Community Events
Enhanced Festival Highlights Univest’s Commitment to Community
SOUDERTON, Pa., August 22, 2006 – Univest Corporation and Sparta Cycling, Inc. today announced an expanded schedule of community events to coincide with the Univest Grand Prix professional bicycle race (UCI 1.2). An enhanced lineup of family-oriented activities and entertainment are planned during both days of the Univest Grand Prix – in Souderton on Saturday, September 9 and in Doylestown on Sunday, September 10.
Saturday, September 9
On Saturday, September 9, a community festival will once again be held at Univest Plaza in Souderton from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Activities will include children’s sprint bicycle races; the WFMZ Children’s TV Studio, giving kids an opportunity to record their own brief news broadcasts; an appearance by Disney Radio personalities; a Moon Bounce and basketball toss; and refreshments. For the first time, an eight-mile high school bicycle race also will be held on a circuit course in town.
Souderton also will be the site of an outdoor community expo, enabling race fans to sample the services of local businesses and to learn more about local nonprofit and charitable organizations. Among the nonprofit organizations represented will be Souderton/Telford Main Streets, Indian Valley YMCA, Penn Foundation and others.
For the first time, concurrent activities will be held on Saturday in Lansdale, one of four new municipalities that have been added to the Souderton race course. Among the activities will be children’s sprint bicycle races; face painting; balloon giveaways; bike safety lessons; a live deejay; and refreshments.
Sunday, September 10
The community activities continue on Sunday in Doylestown. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., Children’s sprints will be held at the start/finish line on West Oakland Avenue in Doylestown for ages 3 -12. Immediately following the sprints, area youth will have an opportunity to participate in an autograph session with some of the professional riders prior to the start of the race at 11:00 a.m. After the conclusion of the race at 1:00 p.m., spectators of all ages can enjoy the Doylestown Arts Festival.
According to William S. Aichele, chairman, president and CEO of Univest Corporation, highlighting local businesses and nonprofit organizations is an important way the corporation gives back to the community. “By giving local businesses and nonprofits an opportunity to interact with residents and visitors, we’re increasing their visibility while strengthening the bonds between the public, commerce and charity. This is another way we’re working to build stronger, more vibrant communities.”
The expanded children’s activities also are an important part of Univest’s business mission. “The focus on children highlights the Univest Grand Prix’s longstanding tradition of developing young people into both the next generation of exemplary citizens and, perhaps, the next great cycling champions,” said John Eustice, president of Sparta Cycling and promoter of the Grand Prix. “I’m proud to work with Univest to once again offer area kids a fun, interactive environment while introducing them to the beautiful sport of cycling.”
The cyclists themselves also contribute to the Grand Prix’s focus on family and community. Since the race’s inception in 1998, out-of-town cyclists have stayed at the homes of local host families and have visited local schools to teach students about bike safety and the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. This year, many of the cyclists will continue this tradition of giving back to the region while in town, by visiting classes in the Central Bucks, North Penn and Souderton school districts on Friday, September 8.
For more information on the community festival and the Univest Grand Prix, please visit www.univestgrandprix.com.
About Univest Grand Prix
The Univest Grand Prix is presented by: Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania, Leidy’s Premium Pork Products, Bergey’s Dealerships, Clemens Family Markets, Doylestown Hospital, Comcast Sportsnet, WFMZ-69, and The Intelligencer.
About Univest Corporation
Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania was founded in Souderton, Pa. and celebrates its 130th anniversary in 2006. Univest and its subsidiaries, Univest National Bank and Trust Co., Univest Insurance, Inc., and Univest Investments, Inc., provide support and leadership in their communities and offer a wide range of financial services to individuals, businesses, municipalities and non-profit organizations. Univest serves Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester counties through 34 financial service centers, 12 retirement community financial service centers, and 39 ATM locations.
About Sparta Cycling
Sparta Cycling, Inc. is a cycling event and television sports producer, and also offers training programs for top level cycling athletes. Founded in 1997, the Manhattan-based company produces the Univest Grand Prix and the Tour of Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.spartacycling.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company's financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.