SNHUGFEST X Raises More Than $6,000 for Hospitalized Children

The Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group (SNHUG) celebrated its 10th annual ukulele festival, SNHUGFEST X, on Saturday, September 19, at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park in downtown Dover, NH, raising more than $6,000 for the Ukulele Kids Club (UKC).
 
The latest fundraising brings SNHUG’s total charitable giving to more than $143,000, with the vast majority benefiting the Ukulele Kids Club, a New Hampshire-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing the healing power of music to hospitalized children.
 
Funds raised through SNHUGFEST will help the UKC provide ukuleles to children’s hospitals with music therapy programs, including several in New Hampshire. The UKC donates the instruments to music therapists, who teach hospitalized children to play. When the child leaves the hospital, the ukulele goes home with them as a “gift for life.”
 
“We are so thankful for the Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group and for all of the love and support that went into this event,” said Marlén Rodriguez-Wolfe, Executive Director of the Ukulele Kids Club. “We are already excited for next year’s 11th SNHUGFEST—it is an amazing tradition. With SNHUG’s help, we are nearing 20,000 instruments given to hospitalized children, along with music therapy, making a meaningful difference not only for the children, but for their parents and caregivers.”
 
A Day of Music, Community and Giving
 
SNHUGFEST X featured an impressive lineup of performers, including SuLo, Friend Andrea, Reck’n Crew, Ukulele Sunshine Band, June and the Honey Badgers, Contookuleles, Tater Corner Jug Band, A&W Ukulele Players, and El Trio Demers and Friends.
 
The festival culminated in a crowd-pleasing grand finale, with audience members invited onto the stage to join the performers for “Feelin’ Groovy.”
 
Beautiful weather, food provided by the Dover, Rollinsford and South Berwick Lions Club, enthusiastic crowds and plenty of ukulele music made the 10th anniversary celebration a memorable day for performers, volunteers, families and attendees.
 
A special highlight was the festival’s Master of Ceremonies, Sean Macdonald of WMUR, who kept the festivities moving throughout the day and even joined attendees onstage to strum along. His participation was a big hit with the crowd.
 
UKC Directors Marlén Rodriguez-Wolfe and Connie Ryan also shared moving stories about the difference the organization’s music therapy programs and instruments are making in the lives of hospitalized children and their families.
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters
SNHUG extends its heartfelt thanks to the many businesses, organizations and individuals whose generosity helped make SNHUGFEST X possible.
 
Event sponsors and contributors included:

• A&W Ukulele Players
• AMITY Publications
• Ann Kimball
• Coppal House Farm
• Cynthia and Alan Dore
• Danno Sullivan
• Fred Quimby
• GFWC Dover Area Woman’s Club
• Glen Bailey and Tara Bickford Bailey
• Joanie and Charlie’s Paint Partaaaaays!
• June and the Honey Badgers
• Kennebunk Savings
• Milk Street Studios
• Nippo Lake Golf
• Rotary Club of Dover
• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
• Ukestra with Mike Loce

Photo Caption: The Southern NH Ukulele Group’s tenth annual festival drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 200 and raised over $6,000 for the UKC.  Total funds raised by SNHUG is over $143,000. Their mission is to “do a little good” in their community.