On the Waterfront fund established at Community Foundation

Staff Report

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) announced Dec. 19 that the board of directors for On the Waterfront (OTW), Inc., has established a charitable fund at the foundation.

OTW organizers recently announced the Labor Day music festival was ending its 29-year run in downtown Rockford. The festival, which began as a street party in 1984, was once Illinois’ largest music festival. The festival, however, was saddled with $340,000 in debt and decided to cease operations.

OTW often prided itself on offering local organizations an opportunity to earn needed funds through volunteer work at the festival, including working beverage and food tents. Prior to the 2012 festival, OTW had generated more than $10.1 million for more than 300 not-for-profit organizations in 28 years with an economic impact of $13.2 million annually.

The immediate purpose of the OTW charitable fund will be to provide financial resources to nonprofits that have not yet been paid for participating in the OTW. Many of these nonprofits are small organizations (modest volunteer efforts and youth groups), and OTW served as their only fund-raising event for the year.

“We are pleased to help On the Waterfront support the nonprofits in this community,” said Gloria Lundin, president of the CFNIL. “On the Waterfront was a premier event, and we urge people to help it fulfill its original mission — to give back to this community.”

Contributions to the On the Waterfront Fund are tax-deductible and are accepted at any time.

Make checks payable to the Community Foundation and write OTW on the memo line. Send checks to 946 N. Second St., Rockford, IL 61107. Donations can also be made online at www.cfnil.org/give/donate-now. Indicate OTW as the fund name.

The CFNIL is the area’s largest provider of grants and scholarships. Its mission is to attract, grow and preserve an endowment for the needs of northern Illinois.

From the Dec. 26, 2012-Jan. 1, 2013, issue

Print This Article