admin posted on August 27, 2010 06:25
In two weeks the largest Labor Day Festival in the Southeast will be underway in Downtown Matthews. The event includes lots of fun, music, arts, crafts and much more. One of the best kept secrets of the festival is that behind the scenes there are hundreds of volunteers who make the festival one of the best in the region. These volunteers work at the festival for two reasons – they love Matthews and the non-profits they represent will share in the profits of the festival. The non-profits commit to working various areas of the festival from Friday to Monday.
The festival’s slogan says it all: “Good Times Funding Good Works.” Thirty- two non-profits will benefit from the proceeds of Matthews Alive. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, marching band students, church youth groups are just a few of the groups who work and benefit from the event. This is not a new concept. For the last 18 years these non-profits have shared over $750,000 from the festival.
“Our Cubs, Scouts and Venture Crew benefit from our participation in many ways. One way we use the funds we earn is to offer memberships, including uniforms and camping gear for those that might not have the financial means any other way. We have been participating for five years and look forward to many more,” said Paul Michniak, who is with Boy Scout Troop 46.
Mark Tregde, with the Butler High School Band Boosters, recently commented on why Matthews Alive is important to their program by saying, “We have participated in the festival for ten years. We use our share of the proceeds to purchase music and instruments and to help finance participation in concert festivals, marching band competitions, and parades.”
Meck 8 Girl Scouts have also participated in the Matthews Alive Festival for the past ten years. “By staffing the festival's Family Fun Booths our girls have the opportunity to learn essential skills such as scheduling, time management, budgeting, team work and customer service. We use the money we earn to fund enrichment/cultural experience trips, buy materials and supplies and for community service program expenses. The Meck 8 Girl Scouts are extremely grateful for the opportunity to take part in this annual community event,” said Mary Shearer - Jareo.
Non-profits who are participating this year are:
BSA Troop 46, Christ Our Shepherd, Crestdale Middle School PTA, BSA Troop 174, Girl Scouts Meck 8, Venturing Crew 174, Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, Socrates Academy Parent Faculty Involvement Association, Butler High School Lacrosse Boosters, BSA Troop 164, Pioneer Girls of Christ Covenant Church, Grace Academy, Levine Senior Center, Blessed Assurance Adult Day Care, Matthews Civitan Club, Matthews Lions Club, HAWK-Matthews Naturally, BSA Troop 502, BSA Troop 39, Matthews United Methodist Church Youth Ministries, South Meck Band Boosters, Butler High School Band Boosters, Butler High School Key Club, First Baptist Matthews Youth, Butler Girls Volleyball, Candlewyck Baptist Church, Stingray Aquatics, Butler High School Marching Band, Providence High School Marching Band, Independence High School Marching Band, Marvin Ridge High School Marching Band, Sun Valley High School Marching Band.
Matthews Alive will be held September 3-6 in Downtown Matthews. For more information visit www.matthewsalive.org.