The Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund, of Kenosha, will bring nationally recognized jazz acts to Kenosha’s lakefront on Aug. 15 to raise funds toward scholarships for college-bound high school graduates.
Music artists like Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band will perform during the Harbor Park Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival, to be held in Harbor Park Celebration Place in Kenosha.
The festival, which has been running for more than 12 years, has become the Mahone Fund’s signature annual event, supporting its mission to “promote opportunities for economically or academically disadvantaged youth,” according to its website.
The organization also backs breast and cervical cancer initiatives for women struggling financially.
During this year’s jazz festival, the Mahone Fund aims to surpass fundraising totals of past years, according to Tim Mahone, chairman of the board of the organization.
In previous years, the festival has generated as much as $60,000.
Event proceeds help the organization fund nine to 10 $5,000 scholarships for deserving students from Kenosha Unified School District and Kenosha’s St. Joseph High School.
In addition to the $5,000 scholarships the organization backs, it awards one student each year with a full-ride scholarship to attend Carthage College in Kenosha. Carthage College funnels the scholarship dollars to the Mahone Fund, which then facilitates the award to a student.
Scholarship recipients are selected through a variety of criteria, including academic performance, demonstration of volunteerism and commitment to participating in extracurricular activities.
The Mahone Fund anticipates about 1,000 attendees during this year’s outdoor festival, depending on weather.
Along with Rebirth Brass Band, a New Orleans brass band that will take the main stage at 7 p.m., the jazz festival will feature performances by Kari Anderson and the Pickups, Ira Walker Band, Kenosha Jazz All-Star Tribute Band, and Frank Catalano Group.
The Mahone Fund has been “very successful” in attracting Grammy-winning artists throughout the festival’s history, Mahone said, as it aims to provide quality jazz music for festivalgoers.
Beyond live music, the jazz fest will feature the second annual “Cooking Studio,” an interactive cooking and grilling demonstration with regional celebrity chefs, including chef Jason Gorman of Mangia Wine Bar in Kenosha.
The studio is made possible by the organization’s partnership with the Gateway Technical College Culinary Arts Program.
As attendees enjoy the summery sounds of the jazz performances and food prepared onsite, Mahone hopes they also learn about the “great cause” their dollars are directly supporting.
“I think what I’d like for them to take away first of all is the great work that we do with the funds that we get from the event,” he said.
Festival music will kick off at 1:30 p.m. General admission costs $25 with VIP tickets priced at $85.
Harbor Park Celebration Place is located at 56th Street and Ring Road in Kenosha.
To purchase festival tickets, visit www.mahonefund.org.
