Phish Raise $4 Million for Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program During Albany Run
Photo Credit: Peter Wallace
Over the weekend, from Oct. 25-27, Phish made its highly anticipated return to the stage with a three-night stand at Albany, N.Y.’s MVP Arena. As the band’s sole live engagement between its sprawling summer tour and its 17th annual New Year’s Eve series at New York’s Madison Square Garden, this standalone run was planned as a fundraising venture for the Divided Sky Foundation, Trey Anastasio’s non-profit organization committed to offering support for people facing substance use disorders. Today, the band and foundation share the fruits of its thrilling staging, announcing a yield of more than $4 million for the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program.
“It’s hard to put into words how grateful we are to Phish and their fans for this generosity,” says Melanie Gulde, Program Director and co-founder of Divided Sky. “But this isn’t about words–it’s about action. And because of these concerts, we will be able to help many more people take charge of their lives and to recover from addictions.”
100% of net proceeds from the Albany performances–including ticket purchases, merchandise sales and pay-per-view livestreams–have been directed to the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program and its recently-opened facility Ludlow, Vt., which fosters compassionate and comprehensive care for those in recovery through an immersive live-in experience. This massive contribution was only the outset for an ongoing $10 million fundraising campaign; all donations will go to support the program through expansion to new properties, staff increases and scholarships to guarantee access to services for those otherwise unable to pay.
“As a person in recovery, I understand how valuable it is to individuals in early sobriety to have access to an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive community where they can begin to build a solid foundation for their new sober lives,” Anastasio shared for a fundraiser earlier in the year. “At The Divided Sky Recovery Program, our mission is to deliver supportive and compassionate programming with dignity and respect for individuals and their families affected by addiction. We do this by offering a safe environment for men and women to build the foundation necessary to live a productive, healthy, and sober life.”
Fans can support the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program’s mission via dividedsky.org/donate. Watch a descriptive video of the program–featuring testimonials from Anastasio, guests, staff and more–below.
