Bonnaroo Marks 10 Years of Charitable Giving Donating More Than $5 Million

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Bonnaroo organizers have announced that during the first 10 years of the festival, more than $5 million has been donated to local, regional and national charities and organizations. Plans are in the works to surpass the amount during the next 10 years with innovative new programs and upgrades to existing charitable outreach and philanthropic support through the Bonnaroo Works Fund.

Festival partner Rick Farman says its charitable focus has been an important part of Bonnaroo's guiding tenets since it was established in 2002. "One of our founding principles is to give back at the local, regional and national levels and we are pleased that we've been able to significantly impact a number of organizations that fit the festival's mission," Farman said. "We've learned a lot about how best to steer that effort, and as we look to the next decade, we're hoping to increase dramatically our next 10-year commitment."

The Bonnaroo Works Fund is administered through the East Tennessee Foundation, which helps identify and vet organizations looking for financial aid and helps Bonnaroo focus its efforts and distribute funds where they have the most impact. The Bonnaroo Works Fund will continue to support organizations and programs invested in the arts, education and environmental sustainability with special emphasis on local re-investment and asset building in the Bonnaroo communities. The festival has supported national non-profit organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Head Count, MusiCares, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of America, Rock the Earth, the American Red Cross, and the Sierra Club, as well as provided aid during tragic disasters such as the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, Nashville floods and Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

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