Phish Foundation Gives $100,000 To Non-Profits After Canceled Curveball Festival

SCHUYLER COUNTY, NY (CelebrityAccess) – Phish has given out $100,000 to seven non-profit groups in Upstate New York after last year’s canceled Curveball Festival at Watkins Glen.

Some 85,000 people were expected to attend the three-day festival last August, but the event was canceled at the last minute due to flooding and health concerns about drinking water. Shortly after the cancellation, Phish announced it would be donating $100,000 to help in the recovery effort through The WaterWheel Foundation, a non-profit group that oversees the band’s charitable activities.

According to The Elmira Star-Gazette the seven non-profit groups receiving funding are: The Arbor Housing and Development Foundation, the American Red Cross of the Finger Lakes, the Dundee Fire and Rescue Team, the Hector Food Pantry, the Humane Society of Schuyler County, the Watkins Glen Fire Department, and the Valois Logan Hector Fire.

A check presentation for the contributions, totaling $104,125.42, is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Each group will reportedly receive $14,875.06.

“We are so thankful to Phish and The WaterWheel Foundation for funding these grants benefiting a number of our area nonprofits,” WGI President Michael Printup said in a press release

“These tremendous organizations were instrumental in helping Schuyler County residents through last August’s flooding event, and we are proud to host the ceremony at which they will be rightfully honored.”

“We were all so disappointed by the cancellation of Curveball last summer and recognize, in particular, that Watkins Glen and the surrounding communities suffered terrible consequences from the flooding,” Beth Montuori Rowles, executive director of The WaterWheel Foundation, said in a statement.

“Being able to make this donation reaffirms all of our goals as a charitable foundation, harnessing the collective philanthropic efforts of Phish and their fans to be able to give meaningful donations to the communities that we visit on tour. We’re just glad to have the opportunity to help.”