Ashley for the Arts generates $635,000-plus for local nonprofits
Ashley Furniture

ARCADIA, Wis. – Hosted by Ashley Furniture, Ashley for the Arts raised more than $635,000 during its annual, three-day music and art festival. Money raised at the event, held Aug. 12-14 at Memorial Park in Arcadia, Wisconsin, will be donated to 65 participating nonprofit organizations, 32 of which are area school districts.

Ashley Furniture
High-profile music acts included Little Big Town

Complimentary admission was provided by Ashley and the Ron Wanek family to the opening night music act, Blondie Blue and the Memories, followed by the Marshall Tucker Band. Other musical acts during the event included: Toby Keith, Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Barenaked Ladies, Foreigner, Switchfoot, Jefferson Starship, Clare Dunn, and Them Coulee Boys.

The Pursuit of a Cure 5K run/walk raised money to advance medical research and help offset medical costs that cancer patients incur. The successful fundraiser sold out of luminarias used to line the walkway “in honor” or “in memory of” those affected by cancer.

Ashley Furniture

Along with a variety of games, including axe throwing, the event also featured an expanded family fun zone with a 20th-century circus, rock climbing wall, petting zoo, football toss, and halo jumper simulator. Guests also visited the Ashley Zone which showcased Ashley Furniture’s corporate social responsibility initiatives; Heartworks, City of Hope, Trempealeau Valley Co-op’s Mobile Skills Lab, Ashley’s Angels, conservation efforts, Wreaths Across America, and local middle and high school robotics teams. Trempealeau County Health Department partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and AMI Healthcare to offer COVID-19 vaccines onsite. Nearly 100 art and craft fair vendors showcased their wares. All of which was included in the admission cost of $30 for the weekend.

Along with support from host Ashley Furniture Industries and numerous community and corporate sponsorships, nearly 4,000 volunteer shifts helped put on the one-of-a-kind nonprofit event.

Ashley Furniture
The nearly 4,000 volunteer shifts helped make the event a success.

The 2022 Ashley for the Arts event is scheduled for Aug. 11, 12 and 13 in Arcadia, Wisconsin. For more information on the nonprofit initiative, visit AshleyfortheArts.com, or Instagram @AshleyfortheArts.

The organization is one of Wisconsin’s largest charity events, donating more than $3 million since its inception to more than 65 nonprofit organizations, including participating schools, children’s charities, and medical research. This music and arts festival was conceptualized and established by Ashley Furniture Industries in 2009 and takes place in Arcadia, Wisconsin’s Memorial Park.

Established in 1945 and headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin, Ashley Furniture Industries is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, and was named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes in 2021. The company is ranked #1 on the FDMC 300 list of largest North American wood products producers.

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About the author
Karen Koenig | Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As editor of special publications under the Woodworking Network brand, including the Red Book Best Practices resource guide and website, Karen’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating of editorial content. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media. She can be reached at [email protected]