KENNETT SQUARE — If you’ve ever been to the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, you know it’s like a large block party, where the community comes together for the weekend to celebrate the area’s most popular commodity—mushrooms.
While there’s plenty to enjoy during the event, a big part of the Festival’s mission is to give back to the community—and in fact, the theme of the 2021 Festival was ‘Rooted in the Community,’ a nod not just to the mushroom farms, but the community that helps support the industry.
“Today, I’m happy to invite local non-profits to apply for a Mushroom Festival Grant Award,” said Gina Puoci, 2021 Mushroom Festival President.
Each year, the Mushroom Festival provides proceeds from the event to local charities and non-profit organizations. Over the past 20 years, the Mushroom Festival has donated more than $1 million in funds to local organizations for things like books, playground equipment, food, transportation, healthcare services, and more.
Gale Ferranto, Buona Foods, Mushroom Festival Coordinator, explained the grant program this way. “Kennett Square is the Mushroom Capital of the World, in large part due to the support of the community. This is a way for the mushroom farming community to say thank you.”
Non-profit organizations can find the application and information about supporting documents at GRANT APPLICATIONS – Mushroom Festival. Non-profits must have a 501(c)(3) designation. Deadline for submission is February 28, 2022.
