The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization founded by Phish fans, has announced six new grants, totaling $26,300, supporting music education for children. The grants come from the Mockingbird Foundation’s 14th round of competitive grant-making, coincide with the 14th anniversary of the Foundation’s incorporation, and bring the total Mockingbird disbursements to nearly $650,000.
These newest grants support programs at two schools and four non-profit organizations, in six states (including the first Mockingbird grant in West Virginia):
- $4,000 for instrument purchases at Mae Eanes Middle School‘s Band Program (Mobile, AL)
- $2,500 for scholarships at The Symphony Women’s Association‘s First Music Lessons for Underserved Children (Tuscon, AZ), to support weekly classes on songwriting and improvisation
- $5,000 for scholarships at Bay Area Girls Rock‘s Girls Rock Summer Camp and Girls Rock After School Program (Oakland, CA)
- $5,000 for staffing at The Swope Music Program of Swope Corridor Renaissance/Upper Room, Inc. (Kansas City, MO)
- $5,000 for staffing at the Brooklyn Community Arts and Media High School‘s Beats Music Program (Brooklyn, NY)
- $4,800 for materials and supplies for Step by Step, Inc.’s Rock Camp 4 Girls Appalachia (Charleston, WV)
The Mockingbird Foundation, run entirely by volunteers, supports music education for children by fundraising through Phish-related projects. The Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was organized by Phish fans in 1996, formally incorporated in 1997, and has since then distributed over $648,000 through 198 grants in 43 states.
The Foundation is also the leading provider of historical information about Phish and its music, having cultivated intellectual property through www.phish.net since 1994. The Foundation is able to disburse more than 98% of the funds raised to important and innovative programs serving diverse populations. Due to high demand, the Foundation’s two-tiered application process remains one of the most competitive in the nation. Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation through the Foundation’s website at www.mbird.org.
Phish is a rock band that started in 1983 and grew to become one of the highest-grossing live acts in the nation. For more information about Phish, please visit phish.net and phish.com