John Goodwin Named President of Hollywood Christmas Parade's Advisory Board for Community, Celebrity Outreach

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is proud to announce that John Goodwin, President of Galaxy Press, Inc. has been appointed President, Hollywood Christmas Parade Advisory Board for Community and Celebrity Outreach.

"I am quite honored to have been offered this position and resultant opportunity to help The Hollywood Christmas Parade realize its full potential of celebrating the renaissance of Hollywood," John Goodwin said.

Jim Romanovich, President of Worldwide Media for Associated Television International, the producers of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, said: "In order to encourage community participation and raise excitement for the parade, John will be coordinating with various charity organizations and celebrities in an effort to celebrate Hollywood, not only on the international scale which is possible through television, but also locally where celebrities and community leaders can be seen up close in an experience that only the parade provides. John's knowledge of the greater Hollywood area and the parade itself will contribute to his success in this new position. We are sure that his involvement and enthusiasm for the parade will also boost community participation and outreach for the ensuing years."

Goodwin added, "This last year we had over 800 locals, mostly from Hollywood, who volunteered their time and effort to make this the biggest Christmas parade in the world, he said. "This year, as the parade grows, we will have even more volunteers. The Hollywood Christmas Parade has managed to become an established event and a valuable asset to the community of Los Angeles over the years, while helping and promoting tourism. Working with the Hollywood community I have found many who are excited to make the most out of the parade and help it grow. People such as Jeff Zarinnam, owner of the Hollywood Hotel, who is committed to participate annually with a large helium balloon; Michelle Sobrino, publisher of Variety, who used to watch the parade as a little girl and now wants to ensure the parade is properly covered in the media; Sam Smith, former Chairman of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who each year has committed to help as a volunteer in whatever capacity is needed; and the dozen or more restaurants who donated food for the 800 volunteers this past year."

John Goodwin, President Galaxy Press, has resided in Los Angeles since 1984 when he moved out from Arizona. He has been involved with book publishing since 1986. He has been a board member of the Audio Publishers Assn, a national organization of the audio publishing industry. He has become very active in the Hollywood community the past several years and has served as a Board member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Board member of the Friends of Hollywood Central Park (an organization creating a 44-acre park over the Hollywood Freeway) and has been very active in creating the Hollywood Christmas Parade as a means of continued popularization of Hollywood. He is a member of the Explorers Club, Science Fiction Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and Western Writers of America, as well as the Dubai Press Club as part of an international effort to introduce his publishing program into the Middle East.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is presented annually. Since 1928, the Hollywood Christmas Parade has been an American tradition for 82 years! There were three years during wartime when the parade wasn't presented. Grand Marshals, Celebrities and VIPs who have appeared in The Hollywood Christmas Parade during the last 82 years include: Buzz Aldrin, Roseanne and Tom Arnold, Bob Barker, Michael Bolton, Beau Bridges, Kristin Chenoweth, David Copperfield, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tony Danza, Sammy Davis, Jr., Cecil B. DeMille, Daughtry, Peter Fonda, City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, The Goo Goo Dolls, Louis Gossett, Jr., Johnny Grant, Kathy Griffin, David Hasselhoff, Charlton Heston, Bob and Delores Hope, Ron Howard, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels, Toby Keith, Larry King, Eartha Kitt, City of Los Angeles Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Kenny Loggins, George Lopez, Susan Lucci, Joe Mantegna, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Frankie Muniz, 98 Degrees, Edward James Olmos, Marie Osmond, Hayden Pantierre, Regis and Joy Philbin, Helen Reddy, LeAnn Rimes, Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans, Mickey Rooney, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Richie Sambora, Santa Claus, John Schneider, Arnold Schwarzenegger, William Shatner, Jimmy Stewart, The Simpsons, Ashley Tisdale, City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, Stevie Wonder and many others.

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