Long Beach's Mai Tai Bar Donates Half of Opening Day Proceeds to Music for a Cure

Long Beach's Mai Tai Bar Donates Half of Opening Day Proceeds to Music for a Cure

Clear Channel Contest Also Benefits Newport Beach Charity's Effort to Bring Music to Critically Ill Kids

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of its goal to bring the best in live, local entertainment to its guests, The Mai Tai Bar selected a local charity which brings music to children facing cancer and other critical illnesses as recipient of half of all proceeds raised during its opening day. On July 9, doors opened to the public at The Mai Tai Bar's first West Coast location at the Pike in Long Beach. On that day, a festive happy hour and booming evening entertainment lineup enabled The Mai Tai Bar to raise money for Music for a Cure. The Mai Tai Bar has presented a check to the organization in the amount of $6,625.00 to continue its outstanding work with children.

"This gift is truly amazing, and it will help us reach out to very ill children in so many ways," said Murphy Karges, founder of Newport Beach-based Music for a Cure and bass player for the popular band Sugar Ray. "From arranging meetings with musician heroes to providing lessons, The Mai Tai Bar will convert dreams to reality for the kids we work with."

Support for Music for a Cure will continue as an online auction on ebay.com takes place from August 15 to September 1, 2005. Southern Californians are asked to visit www.maitaibar.com where they can find out details on how to bid on a Fender Stratocaster guitar autographed by Sugar Ray or a chance to win a meal with Murphy and members of Sugar Ray at The Mai Tai Bar with proceeds benefiting Music for a Cure. A special public service announcement by Murphy Karges will also start airing on several Clear Channel radio stations including KYSR, KIIS FM, KBIG, KOST, KFI, KHHT and KLAC.

"Music for a Cure offers such potential to bring so many kids a lot of happiness during a very difficult time," said Scott Barnett, CEO of The Mai Tai Bar. "American Cancer Society statistics show that in 2005 alone, there were about 9,500 new cases of cancer diagnosed in children up to age 14. If The Mai Tai Bar can help Music for a Cure reach out to them, we'll lend our support in any way possible."

Music for a Cure was founded in April 2002 in memory of Huntington Beach's Ryan Michael Bates, who lost his battle against cancer in December 2001. The organization's goal is to bring the curative properties of music to the children who need it most. Whether a portable CD player with CDs, a signed photo or poster of a favorite musician, a visit with a recording hero or a musical instrument with lessons to get them started, it's Music for a Cure's mission to bring music in many forms to children, resulting in inspiration, hope and happiness.

The Mai Tai Bar

With locations in Oahu, HI and Daytona Beach, Fla., The Mai Tai Bar showcases nightly live music, a popular happy hour and fun food and drink. Embodying the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands, The Mai Tai Bar includes tropical scenery, ocean vistas, images of waves and surf, and exceptional hospitality.

The Mai Tai Bar serves a delightful array of martinis, island cocktails and mai tais as well as island style appetizers including Ahi Ruby Rare, Chicken Chinois, Coconut Shrimp and other delicious pupus (Hawaiian appetizers). The Mai Tai Bar was voted "Best Bar in Hawaii" in a poll conducted by the Honolulu Star Bulletin and was the recipient of the Ilima Award for "Best Bar" in Hawaii in a poll conducted by the Honolulu Advertiser.

Source: Mai Tai Bar

CONTACT: Diana Baylor of Baylor PR, +1-714-329-7044, for Mai Tai Bar

Web site: http://www.maitaibar.com/

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