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Greta Van Fleet inspired Arts & Music Festival sparking growth

  Ignite The Arts Foundation, in collaboration with Haus of Greta and presented by Frankenmuth Credit Union, proudly announce the 4th Annual Parking Lot Party: a high-energy community fundraiser celebrating creativity, inclusion, and the transformative power of the arts.

  This rain-or-shine event will take place Saturday July 18, from noon-11pm at the Herzog Platz in Frankenmuth's Heritage Park. Funds raised this year through admission, raffles, activities, and concession sales will benefit the development of the Intentional Collaborative Community Connection (IC3): a purpose-designed residential village for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

  “The IC3 is developing a concept that can be worked out and then reproduced nationwide.” event co-founder and Ignite The Arts president Karen Kiszka explains. "While there are many events and organizations that support more visible needs like animal welfare, cancer research, and the like, Haus of Greta would like to provide aid to a less visible need like the Mental Health Community. The IDD community fits this definition. It used to be that children with closed-head injuries, Downs Syndrome, or similar situations could pass away prematurely because we didn’t understand how to take care of them properly. Now we have children with these conditions outliving their parents. This is devastating and traumatizing for the IDD individual and potentially dangerous if the parents can’t find somewhere to house their children that is safe and inclusive. So, that’s what IC3 is working on developing: putting together a living community designed to provide a safe, life-long space for these individuals.”

  The IC3 will provide safe residence and will feature a community center that includes a performance arts facility.

  "Part of Ignite The Arts' mission statement includes establishing belonging and enriching peoples’ lives through art, in addition to providing scholarships for music programs, and creating opportunities that inspire confidence, connection, and self-expression for people of all ages and abilities" concludes Kiszka.

  The family-friendly festival housed under a giant tent and surrounding greenspace will feature a wide array of artists, vendors, activities, food trucks, a bar, photo booth, and live music from local and out-of-state acts. .....

 .....To read this complete story and other Upcoming Events in this week's Frankenmuth News, click on the "Subscribe" tab at the left or call (989-652-3246) to begin receiving your weekly copy of the Frankenmuth News.