Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation/Montana Resources re-up Folk Festival support

   The following is a release from George Everett, Director of Mainstreet Uptown Butte:     

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in conjunction with Montana Resources has awarded a total of $200,000 to support the Montana Folk Festival in 2024.  This year, $100,000 will be awarded to the Montana Folk Festival which must be matched by contributions from other Montana businesses.

"If the Montana Folk Festival organizers meet this challenge 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 total contribution $200,000 for this year."

Thanks in large part to this major support, the 2024 Montana Folk Festival will return to Butte July 12, 13 and 14, after a successful return in 2022 and 2023 from the abyss left in society by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Since 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 attendees to Butte and throughout Montana.

“From the very beginning in 2008, the Montana Folk Festival has attracted thousands of visitors from across the nation and created economic, social and cultural benefits to Butte, surrounding communities and Montana that has far exceeded expectations. 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 broadening the impact and reach of the arts and cultural aspect of the festival in 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.

“We are now seeking corporate sponsorships to match this generous grant,” said George Everett of the Montana Folk Festival Executive Committee. "Contributions made in the coming weeks and months will have an amplified impact thanks to this critical challenge grant,” added Everett.

“The skill and hard work of our 390 employees helps make it possible for the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to be a major contributor to the 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 Jack Standa, 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 meeting 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 12-14, visit 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.