The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in conjunction with Montana Resources has awarded a total of $600,000 to support the Montana Folk Festival over the next three years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Each year for the next three years, $100,000 will be awarded to the Montana Folk Festival which must be matched by donations from other Montana businesses.
“If the Montana Folk Festival organizers meet this challenge each year and raise a matching amount of $100,000,” said Festival Director George Everett, “the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will then disperse another $100,000, making the amount possible $200,000 a year for the next three years.”
Thanks in large part to this support, the 2018 Montana Folk Festival returns to Butte July 13-15. From the beginning in 2008, the Foundation has been a major contributor to the success of this festival which has become the largest free of admission summer event in Montana. This grant is offered as a challenge to Montana businesses to join in helping to make the festival a self-sustaining event that will continue to bring thousands of tourists to Butte and throughout Montana.
“From the very beginning in 2008, we have been impressed with the economic, social and cultural impact of The National Folk Festival and that positive impact has continued since 2011 with seven presentations of the Montana Folk Festival. We want to see this event continue for the long term and that is why we are doubling our support for this signature event. We also want to continue to support Butte and surrounding communities in an effort to help broaden the impact and reach of the festival into Montana’s K-12 and post-secondary education systems in order to showcase the importance of the arts not only as an economic driver but also as an academic motivator that boosts achievement in our schools,” said Mike Halligan, Executive Director of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.
“Corporate sponsorships will be sought and applied to match this generous grant,” said George Everett of the Montana Folk Festival Executive Committee. “Contributions made will now have an amplified impact thanks to this critical challenge,” added Everett.
“The skill and hard work of our 355 employees helps make it possible for the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to be a major contributor to this Montana Folk Festival. We are a leader in our industry and we would like to be a leader as well in encouraging other businesses to support what has become a major economic and cultural event for our area,” said Rolin Erickson, Montana Resources President. “We hope that corporate citizens throughout the region will see the benefits to their communities and help meet this challenge,” he added.
Sponsorships that businesses consider to meet this challenge come with many benefits as well to ensure they receive the recognition for their support that they deserve. These are described in detail on the festival website at www.montanafolkfestival.com/folkFestival-forms-sponsor.php, or call 406-565-2249.
For details about the Montana Folk Festival returning to Butte July 13-15, visit www.montanafolkfestival.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mtfolkfest.
For details about the many charitable projects of The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in the Butte area and beyond, visit www.dpwfoundation.org.
And, to learn more about the work of Montana Resources in Butte, that makes this support possible, visit www.montanaresources.com.