The Winthrop Music Association (WMA), the nonprofit board that runs the annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, voted at its September meeting to give back to the community by donating to several local and regional programs from proceeds of the 31st Annual festival in July:
• Cove Food Bank, $3,000.
• Room One, $2,500.
• Washington Blues Society Musician Relief Program, $750.
• Methow Valley School District Music Program, $1,000.
• Methow Valley Education Foundation scholarship fund in honor of Tom Zbyszewski, $1,000.
Association President Rick Northcott notes: “We are so happy and excited about another great and well-attended festival that we had in July. A big thank you to all our patrons and the great volunteers who help make this event a success.
“We are especially proud and honored that due to the success of the festival we are able to once again give back to our community with these donations. It holds true to our values and mission at the WMA to help others when possible and we hope that through these donations many others will be helped along the way and will experience a successful and positive outcome.”
Over the past decade that the nonprofit has run the festival, the Winthrop Music Association, has donated close to $85,000 to educational and social service programs in the Methow Valley and beyond.