Peace One Earth Designer Patricia Kennedy Delivers Moving Tribute to Late Joffrey Ballet Founder Gerald Arpino

Chicago, IL, November 26, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Patricia Kennedy, Known as the First Lady of the Joffrey Ballet as well as the designer of the Peace One Earth Medallion, delivered a moving tribute at the memorial service for Gerald “Jerry” Arpino this week in Chicago at their performance home, the Auditorium Theatre.

Kennedy, who was instrumental in saving the Joffrey Ballet from bankruptcy in 1993 when she co-produced with Jerry Arpino and Prince the first full evening landmark rock ballet, Billboards. The overwhelming success of Billboards brought the Joffrey to Chicago as their resident ballet company in 1995.

Ms. Kennedy spoke eloquently at the memorial reminiscing about Mr. Arpino’s “Bravos” to his dancers at the conclusion of every performance.

Kennedy said, “His Bravo has been silenced by his echo shall linger on”. She compared Jerry to the spelling of Bravo, “He (Arpino) was Bold-Resilient-Arpino-Victorious-& Original. The dance world has lost the last founder of the big three, NYC, ABT, and the Joffrey. It is truly the end of a great era in American dance and the passing of the torch to a new generation.”

Patricia Kennedy served on the Joffrey Ballet California Board of Directors from 1985-1995, chaired many of their galas and has been an ardent supporter of Jerry Arpino and the Joffrey Ballet for over twenty-four years. Kennedy currently helms a not-for-profit, Step Up 4 Vets, raising money to help veterans transition back to civilian life following service.

Kennedy's latest venture, The Peace One Earth Medallion, is now available for holiday purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going to support Veterans via Step Up 4 Vets.

For more information on Patricia Kennedy and Step Up 4 Vets, please visit www.stepup4vets.org or www.peaceoneearth.com. For press and interview requests, please contact Bill McCoy/Daniel Bernstein at Bernstein Entertainment, dbernsteinpr@aol.com or 310-915-0404.

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