Some 5,000 people visited the Queen Mary in Long Beach on April 1, 2007, to enjoy a day of fun, food and entertainment and support Peruanitos Foundations work on behalf of abused and abandoned children in Peru.
The crowd enjoyed the talents of some two dozen entertainers, many of whom traveled from Peru to join the festivities. The talent roster included La Chola Chabuca, Ruth Karina, Fernando Vela, Los Morunos, Jimmy Santi and Jorge Pardo. A variety of delicious Peruvian food sustained the crowd during the daylong event, which ran from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Parents and children joined Teofilo Cubillas, Balan Gonzales, Roberto Martinez and El Pato Cabanillas for indoor soccer sessions. Afterwards, the athletes autographed soccer balls and red and white soccer shirts emblazoned with Te Amo Peru (I Love You Peru) on the front and the Peruanitos Foundation logo on the back.
The emotional highlight of the festival came in the evening, when Peruanitos Foundation showed a video documenting the harsh life that Perus impoverished children endure every day. The childrens stories moved many people to tears. At the end of the evening, the artists took to the stage one by one. The voices of some cracked with emotion as they addressed the crowd. They concluded the evening with a warm rendition of the Peruanitos Foundation anthem.
