CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte's annual Thanksgiving Day parade has a new sponsor, two weeks after the traditional event was canceled for a lack of financial backing.
The Charlotte Observer reports (http://bit.ly/17jTQwS) that a coalition of city leaders announced Tuesday that Novant Health agreed to serve as primary sponsor of the parade for the next three years.
In addition, Novant and Carolinas Carrousel officials said they also will continue the accompanying scholarship pageant for senior girls in the region's high schools.
"When I heard it was being discontinued, I was in shock," said Jesse Cureton, executive vice president and chief of consumer affairs for Novant Health, as well as a former Carrousel parade participant as a member of the West Charlotte High School drum line. "I'm excited that Novant will help keep it going."
The parade has been a Charlotte fixture for 64 years, but organizers canceled it for this November because of a lack of support.
Belk had been the primary sponsor since 2010, but announced late last year that it was pulling out to focus on its commitments to breast cancer and other educational initiatives.