First National Bank & Trust Company supports 15th Ashley for the Arts annual festival
August 26, 2024
Arcadia, WI, August 27, 2024 - For the third consecutive year, First National Bank & Trust Company proudly sponsored the 15th annual Ashley for the Arts festival, a three-day celebration of music, art, and community held August 8-10 at Memorial Park in Arcadia, Wisconsin. This year’s event drew tens of thousands of attendees who enjoyed top-tier performances, food, art and craft vendors, and attractions ranging from an inflatable air park to a lumberjack show, street performers and fireworks. The festival successfully raised over $750,000, benefitting more than 70 nonprofit organizations.
"First National Bank & Trust Company believes in the power of community, and Ashley for the Arts exemplifies this spirit. The festival not only attracts visitors to our town, boosting local businesses, but also supports nonprofits through generous donations," said Josh Grzadzielewski, Vice President of Community Banking at First National Bank & Trust Company. "It's incredible to see the backyard of our smalltown transform into one of the state’s largest festivals, showcasing our beautiful park and the dedication of local volunteers."
The festival's main stage featured performances by Old Dominion, Journey, Bret Michaels, The Script, Vertical Horizon, LOCASH, Tigirlily Gold, and Neal McCoy, among others. Highlights included a hot air balloon launch before Bret Michaels’ performance and the festival's grand finale with the certified platinum record music group, Old Dominion.
"As we celebrate our 15th anniversary year, we are immensely grateful to our incredible fans, volunteers, sponsors and the supportive community for helping Ashley for the Arts grow into one of Wisconsin’s largest charity events,” said Cole Bawek, Event Director of Ashley for the Arts. “The unwavering enthusiasm and participation have made this milestone event a truly remarkable celebration of art, music and community. We look forward to continuing to bring joy, inspiration, and cultural experiences for many years to come."
The festival, which attracted over 50,000 attendees to a town of just 3,800 residents, featured an extraordinary variety of entertainment, from live music to unique acts, STEM stations, a petting zoo and even a pogo stick competition. Two employees of First National Bank & Trust Company shared their personal experiences:
“The best part of this event is the variety of fun activities, from live music and art exhibits to bounce houses and petting zoos. Volunteering to help set up the park is incredibly rewarding, as it's amazing to see how much joy this event brings to so many people,” said Anne Olson, First National Bank and Trust Company employee.
Bruce Klein, another First National Bank and Trust Company employee added, “As a community member and a bank employee, I’m proud to volunteer knowing that Ashley for the Arts has raised over $3.5 million in the past 15 years to support more than 40 causes annually. The entertainment and unique acts, like the lumberjacks and acrobats, were a blast this year. Plus, the Arcadia Lions, of which I’m a proud member, were recognized as the Volunteer Group of the Year!”
For more information or to get a sneak peek at next year’s event, visit www.AshleyfortheArts.com.
About Ashley for the Arts: Ashley for the Arts is a nonprofit initiative offering world class entertainment, art, exercise, and family fun at a remarkably low cost. As one of Wisconsin’s largest charity events, Ashley for the Arts has donated over $4 million to more than 70 nonprofit organizations, including schools, children’s charities, and medical research groups. Founded by Ashley Furniture Industries in 2009, the festival is held annually at Memorial Park in Arcadia, Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.AshleyfortheArts.com.
About First National Bank & Trust Company: First National Bank & Trust Company is a community bank with locations in Clinton, Illinois, and Arcadia, Whitehall, and Independence, Wisconsin. Committed to community prosperity, the bank was chartered in 1872 under the name DeWitt County National Bank and became part of TS Banking Group in 2017. With $410 million in assets, First National Bank & Trust Company reinvests 10% of its pretax profits back into the community. For more information, visit firstnbtc.com.