DENVER – Prominent Brighton resident Bob Sakata and his wife, Joanna, have been named honorary patrons of the upcoming Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.

    “I’m flattered to be asked to be the honorary patron of such a meaningful project,” Bob said, “and I hope I can live up to the honor.”

    The honorary patron position was established in 2006 and is selected by the CDBF board of directors. The honorary patron is an individual(s) or entity with a proven record of philanthropic and charitable efforts that support awareness and the betterment of both the APA community and communities throughout Colorado.         Fellow Brighton resident and CDBF board member, Chuong Le, nominated the Sakatasí for the honor.

    In its selection of Bob, the board noted the “amazing adversity” he overcame in his life, from living in an internment camp during World War II to a near fatal farm accident to become of the top 100 vegetable producers in the central United States. In their community, the Sakatas have contributed to Relay For Life, Almost Home, the Brighton Senior Center, Meals on Wheels and the new Platte Valley Medical Center.         Sakata, 84, remains active in the community and serves as the president of the Japan America Society of Colorado.

    “Nothing makes a person feel better than giving,” Bob said. “You’re happier at home, more productive at work, and all that giving will come back to you in great, great lumps. If you really want to feel good, give ‘til it hurts.”

    The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, a free family-friendly festival highlighting Colorado’s rich Asian Pacific American heritage, returns for its 10th year to Sloan’s Lake Park in northwest Denver July 24-25. The diverse festival showcases an array of traditional and contemporary performing arts, cultural customs, cuisine and a marketplace of unique and hard-to-find arts, crafts and vendors, in addition to two days of action packed dragon boat racing.