Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelly Allen. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Sanford Porchfest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unifies its community through music with the mission of enhancing access to and promoting the arts through educational scholarships. Built entirely on goodwill; from the organizers, artists, and homeowners – everyone donates their time and talent to bring this event to life. 100% of the proceeds from the festival (collected through donations, sponsorships, art auction and merchandise sales) are returned to the community in the form of providing performing art summer camp tuition for select children and awarding scholarships for local Seniors and College Students through Sanford Porchfest’s established scholarship funds.
Sanford Porchfest Corporation was co-founded and run on a volunteer basis by four women who live, work and play in Sanford. They consider this passion project an event created for the community by the community.
The vision of Sanford Porchfest is to be an authentic and altruistic organization that helps unify the Sanford community through access to music, access to arts education, and access to each other. Sanford Porchfest seeks to create opportunities for families, friends and neighbors to unite over a common thread – music.
On the fourth Saturday of every February, Sanford Porchfest transforms the residential historic district of downtown Sanford into a positive gathering space where porches become the stage, lawn becomes front row seating, and everyone is a VIP! This free event puts fifty of Central Florida’s best musicians on the front porches of twelve historic homes.
Coming up on their fifth-year anniversary, Sanford Porchfest has grown from 600 to over 5,000 fans in attendance with a cumulative total of $45,000 in support of the future of the arts in Central Florida.
Porchfest by the numbers:
2018: 600 attendees/10 porches/40 bands/$1,000 donated
2019: 1,200 attendees/12 porches/ 50 bands/$7,000 donated
2020: 2,500 attendees/12 porches/50 bands/$15,000 donated
2021: 5,000 attendees/12 porches/50 bands/$21,000 donated
Additional financial support: $1,000 in covid relief funds for Seminole County Public School
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout the five years, Sanford Porchfest Corporation has seen its fair share of struggles, but the team’s dynamic offers a unique team that can work through problems together. From selling this unique idea to the city to handling rapid growth and limited resources to navigating the COVID era, to anticipating future growth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The four co-founders of Sanford Porchfest grew this passion project from the ground up. While Porchfest’s happen across the nation, these women created an event that is 100% volunteer-based, free for the public, and with every cent outside of costs associated with putting on the event (the co-founders do not make a profit) going back to the community to support the future of the arts all while holding down FT careers with a family to tend to and no guidance on best practices.
Co-Founders – Role at Sanford Porchfest (full-time career):
Kim Waters – President (Manager of Rehab Services at a local hospital)
Shelly Allen – Communications Officer (Director, Marketing and Communications at a local start-up)
Shana Gorondy – Brand Officer (Graphic Designer at a local corporation)
Nancy Sepulveda – Treasurer (Digital Marketing Manager at a local corporation)
Sanford Porchfest Corporation has been nominated for several awards:
2021: Best Music Festival, Orlando Weekly (1st place)
2021: Best Music Festival, MySanford Magazine (1st place)
2020: Best Charity Event, MySanford Magazine (1st place)
2020: Best Music Series, Orlando Weekly (3rd place)
2019: Best New Event & Best Arts Event, MySanford Magazine (1st place)
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
The fifth annual festival will be held on Saturday, February 26th from 11:00am-7:45pm with 49 bands on twelve porches and a closer band in Centennial Park. Additional information including lineup, map, etc. will be shared on the official Facebook event (@SanfordPorchfest) or our webpage: www.SanfordPorchfest.org.
Pricing:
- FREE
Contact Info:
- Email: team@sanfordporchfest.org
- Website: https://www.sanfordporchfest.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanfordporchfest/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNO_DnqVMFRl9oSKtBBHA
Image Credits
(c) Sanford Porchfest / Benevolence Photography (c) Sanford Porchfest / benconleyphoto non-watermarked photos are (c) Sanford Porchfest
