Pictured from left to right are: Chris Manning, Band Experience Team Lead for PlumFest, Steve DeSalvo of Plum Island Foundation, PlumFest President Shannon Kinney, Marc Sarkady of Plum Island Foundation and Shanon Heckethorn who leads Operations and Beneficiaries for PlumFest
At PlumFest, one of the most meaningful parts of our mission is giving back to the community that has supported us from the very beginning. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the festival is donated to local organizations that make a positive and lasting impact. We are proud to present a $1,250 donation to the Plum Island Foundation.
The Plum Island Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Plum Island beach and keeping it open to the public. Their work spans topics such as preservation, beach erosion, homeowner and beachgoer rights and more. PlumFest donated $1250 toward their important work in preserving this beautiful place that we call home, and we’re proud to support them.
The Plum Island Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the unique natural beauty of Plum Island. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, the Foundation works to address important issues such as beach erosion, shoreline preservation, public access, and the long-term health of the island’s coastal environment.
One of the priorities of the Plum Island Foundation is to ensure public access and recreational use for all Plum Island’s public beaches.
Today, the Plum Island Foundation is defending public beach access. The Town of Newbury, in partnership with MassWildlife and Mass Audubon, is again seeking to restrict homeowner and public access to a significant portion of the beach to protect nesting shorebirds.
The Plum Island Foundation pledges to provide leadership to consistently and persistently address the issues facing our lovely Island in terms of erosion, sand management, jetties and groins; and ensuring that the beach, the waterways, and the island are here for everyone to enjoy, feel nourished by and experience the wonders of being renewed by the beach and by nature. To accomplish this, they work with the citizens of our Island, and all the stakeholders required to help us accomplish their mission, the municipal governments of Newbury, Newburyport, and the surrounding towns, our state legislative delegation, our federal congressional delegation, and the Army Corps of Engineers—in our District, and the North Atlantic Division, and headquarters in Washington DC.
For those of us who call Plum Island home—or who simply love spending time here—the Foundation’s work helps protect the beaches, wildlife, and coastal resources that make this community so special. Their efforts today will help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy everything Plum Island has to offer.
Supporting organizations like the Plum Island Foundation is an important part of what PlumFest is all about. We believe a successful community event should do more than bring people together for a great weekend of music and fun—it should also give back to the community in meaningful ways.
This donation would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors, volunteers, musicians, vendors, and everyone who attended PlumFest. Every ticket purchased, every volunteer hour, and every sponsorship helps us invest back into the organizations that make our community stronger.
We are grateful for everything the Plum Island Foundation does to protect this remarkable place, and we are honored to support their mission. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of their work for years to come.
For more information about the Plum Island Foundation and its mission, visit https://plumislandfoundation.org.
And their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/plumislandfoundation/
