Arts, Beats & Eats Raises $263,185 for Local Charities

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats announced today that $263,185 raised from the Labor Day weekend festival will be shared with 60 local charitable and cultural organizations, including the , , and many other Royal Oak groups and religious organizations.

This year, 335,000 people visited Arts, Beats & Eats, a number well below the record-breaking crowd of 423,000 of 2010. Much of the attendance loss was blamed on two days of sweltering heat followed by on the third day of the event. The hammering  wind and rain ushered in cooler temperatures but left and in the city.

“The 2011 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats was an incredible success,” said Jon Witz, the event's producer, in a news release. “Once again, the streets of Royal Oak buzzed with a special energy. While our attendance was solid, there is no question that we would have met or exceeded last year’s record attendance had it not been for the heat and severe weather on our first two days.”

A news conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at the , where Witz will provide an overview of the event and present checks to multiple organizations that benefit from the festival. 

Monies awarded

Gate proceeds of $88,914 go to 13 participating organizations:

•  American Red Cross
•  Arthritis Foundation
•  
• The Children’s Center
• Children’s Miracle Network (Hope Center)
• Gleaners Community Food Bank
• Detroit Public Television
• Forgotten Harvest
• JARC
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
• March of Dimes
• The Rainbow Connection
• Volunteers of America

Proceeds from beverage sales of  $57,250 went to 29 participating charitable and cultural groups:

• Affirmations
• Almost Home
• Alpine Blind Skiers
• American Legion
• Detroit Power Squadron
• GM Men’s Club
• Independent Opportunities of Michigan
• Ivy House
• Lakeland Players
• Leukemia Foundation
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• My Dance Studio
• National Transplant Fund
• Polish Women’s Alliance Council
• Prixie Prints – Imprints of the Heart
• Royal Oak Football Teams Inc.
• Royal Oak High School Band & Orchestra Boosters
• Royal Oak Jaycees
• Royal Oak Lions Club
• South Oakland Shelter
• Sierra Club
• Steppin’ Out
• Uptown Group – The Community House

Ten charitable groups will receive a share of $39,882 from Arts Du Jour:

• Arthritis Foundation
• Forgotten Harvest
• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
• Pet Fund Alliance
• Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce
• South Oakland Shelter
• The Children’s Center
• The Rainbow Connection
• The Rose Hill Center

Six groups will share $46,082 from the parking program: