The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit founded and run entirely by Phish fans, has announced sixteen (16) new grants totaling $111,771 in support of music education for children. This is Mockingbird’s 25th round of competitive grants, one of the largest disbursement in the Foundation’s history, and brings total disbursements by the Foundation to more than $1.7M.

The grants were enhanced by funds from Phish’s own WaterWheel Foundation, which funded half of two of the grants; by the Kristy Anastasio Manning Memorial Fund (KAMM), which provided 50% of one of the grants; and through the direct contributions of hundreds of Phish fans. Mockingbird also increased one grant beyond the requested amount, having been particularly impressed by that applicant.

These newest grants support the following programs at schools, centers, and non-profit organizations in twelve states:

• $6,000 for scholarships at The Gifford Youth Orchestra (Vero Beach, FL)
• $5,000 for instruments at Harmony Project Bay Area, Fiscally Sponsored By Community Initiatives (Oakland) (San Francisco, CA) – matched by KAMM
• $10,000 for instruments at Mid-City Community Music (San Diego, CA)
• $5,000 for instruments at Leaders Of Tomorrow Youth Center, Inc (Baltimore, MD)
• $10,000 for scholarships at 18 Degrees (Formerly Berkshire Children And Families) (Pittsfield, MA) – matched by Waterwheel
• $8,771 for instruments at Richland County School District One-Eau Claire High School-Fine Arts Department-Orchestra (Columbia, SC)
• $10,000 for instruments at Emberhope Youthville (Newton, KS)
• $6,500 for instruments at Civitan Foundation, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ)
• $10,000 for instruments at Elaine Wynn Elementary School (Las Vegas , NV)
• $5,000 for instruments at Youth Music Project (West Linn, OR)
• $10,000 for various expenses at Federation Of Neighborhood Centers (Fnc Philly) (Philadelphia, PA) – matched by Waterwheel
• $2,500 for various expenses at Harding Fine Arts Academy (Oklahoma City, OK)
• $10,000 for instruments at Drum Corps Academy Cohort @ Olney Charter High School (Philadelphia, PA)
• $2,000 for various expenses at Bailey Middle School Orchestra (Austin, TX)
• $6,000 for instruments at Franklinton High School Steel Band (Formerly Franklinton Preparatory Academy) (Columbus, OH)
• $5,000 for equipment at The Global Z Recording Project (Urbana, MD)

These sixteen grantees were selected from among 983 initial applicants who requested a total of more than $5.5 million, far beyond the Foundation’s resources. Due to such high demand, Mockingbird’s two-tiered online application process remains one of the most competitive in the nation. Each year, we are able to fund a slightly higher percentage of inquiries, making grants slightly less competitive, thanks to the tremendous generosity of fans. We hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation through the Foundation’s website at www.mbird.org so that we can continue to increase the percentage of applicants whom we are ultimately able to fund.

The Mockingbird Foundation has been operated entirely by volunteer fans, with no salaries or paid staff, since its inception. Mockingbird is now a leading provider of historical information about the band Phish and its music, having cultivated intellectual property through phish.net since 1994. Also a leading grantmaker in music education for children, the Foundation has now made 460 grants, in all 50 states, totaling $1,623,786.40. Proceeds are generated by celebrating the music of Phish through books, recordings, art, donations, and special events, including poster exhibitions, poker tournaments, and golf tournaments.

For more information about Phish, see the official Phish.com or Mockingbird’s own fan-run Phish.net.

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