PHISH FANS DONATE OVER $100K TO CHARITY
Third Round of Funding Serves 26 Groups in 16 States

The Mockingbird Foundation announced today that it will give away $116,134 in proceeds from a book and album about the band Phish. The grants will purchase instruments, hire instructors, pay for scholarships, defray costs of rental space, and introduce digital technology for a wide range of music education programs in 16 states.

The funds support traditional programs at both urban and rural schools at the elementary through high school levels, as well as innovative programs offered by community centers, churches, and progressive nonprofits. Many of the 26 grantees serve children with special needs, such as instruments for a homeless program in New York City; support for a jazz-program for inner-city youth in New Orleans; and instruments and lessons for abused, neglected, and foster children in the greater Seattle area.

The Mockingbird Foundation is an all-volunteer group incorporated by Phish fans in 1997. Grants are funded by The Phish Companion, a 928-page book, and Sharin’ in the Groove, a double-disc tribute featuring Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews, the Wailers, Arlo Guthrie, John Scofield, Little Feat, and 18 other artists. All net proceeds from both projects are donated to music education for children. The current round of funding brings the total amount of Mockingbird grants to nearly $135,000, with another round planned for October. For more information, please see http://www.mockingbirdfoundation.org/album

Phish is an improvisational rock band formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont. They became one of the most consistent touring acts of the 1990s, until a hiatus of unknown duration began after their October 7, 2000, performance. For more information, see http://www.phish.com or The Phish Companion.

GRANTEES:

  • Alaska: Petersburg Children’s Center, in Petersburg
  • Arkansas: St. Joseph Junior High School, in Pine Bluff
  • California: Santa Cruz City Schools; The San Francisco Arts Education Project; The School of the Madeleine, in Berkeley
  • Connecticut: Fairfield University, in Fairfield
  • Florida: Smart School, in Lauderhill
  • Idaho: Garden Valley Schools
  • Illinois: The Merit Music Program, in Chicago; Perez Elementary, in Chicago
  • Louisianna: The Saint Marks Community Center, in New Orleans
  • Massachusettes: Arts in Progress, in Boston; Codman Square Health Center, in Dorchester; Service Net, in Northampton
  • Maine: Youthlinks’ Rock City Rollers, in Rockland
  • Michigan: The Grand Traverse Band Of Ottawa, in Suttons Bay
  • New York: The Learning Project, in NYC; The Portraits Project, in NYC; The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra
  • South Dakota: St. Joseph’s Indian School, in Chamberlain
  • Texas: Youth Orchestra of San Antonio
  • Virginia: Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School, in Front Royal
  • Washington: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue; Seattle Symphony; Treehouse, in Seattle; Wellpinit School District

For more information on these and other grantees benefitting from Mockingbird proceeds, see our list of grantees.

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