The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization founded by Phish fans, has made unsolicited donations to four nonprofit music and arts programs in Worcester, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Burlington, Vermont. The donations were made in anticipation of Phish’s five-show “New Year’s Run,” which begins with two shows at the DCU Center on December 27 and 28 in Worcester, MA, followed by three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York city on December 30 and 31, and January 1.
A donation of $1000 was made to The Joy of Music Program in Worcester, MA, which strives to “giv[e] children a joyful and solid foundation for life-long musical growth.” Donations of $500 apiece were made to two organizations in New York that are previous grant recipients of The Mockingbird Foundation’s highly competitive grant application process: the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, which teaches music, dance and acting classes to children in Harlem, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx and elsewhere; and the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, whose mission is to “empower[] girls and women through music education, volunteerism, and activities that foster self-respect, leadership skills, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.” In addition, a donation of $1000 was made to the Seven Below Arts Initiative, founded by Phish’s guitarist Trey Anastasio “to foster artistic development and to support arts education in the state of Vermont.” This donation by the Foundation is in honor and in memory of Trey Anastasio’s sister, Kristy Manning, who helped found and lead the Seven Below Arts Initiative.
The Mockingbird Foundation, run entirely by volunteers, donates to music education programs in communities touched by Phish tours in order to inspire support for music and arts education and to generate positive press coverage. Music and arts programs positively impact the lives of children and all of us, and it was in this spirit that the Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was organized by Phish fans in 1996. To date, the Foundation has distributed approximately $619,000 in 42 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.