"Music can change the world because it can change people." - Bono, U2

The Westhaven Foundation was started by a committed group of residents over 14 years ago and is an officially registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. The mission of the organization is to serve our community through financial support and volunteerism and to be a catalyst to help others in the community conduct programs of their own. The Westhaven Foundation is expected to reach $1,000,000 in cumulative charitable donations in the coming year. 

HISTORY OF PORCHFEST

By most accounts, Porchfest has its roots in Ithaca, New York, where residents of the Fall Creek neighborhood realized that they had an abundance of musicians and front porches.

Gretchen Hildreth and Lesley Greene started the festival as a way for their neighbors to showcase their musical talents on ready-made “stages.” The concept is very simple – find musicians to play, and find porches for them to play on. 

The event started small, with about 20 participating musicians and host homes. There was, and still is, no money involved, and very little organization is required. Bands, singers and instrumentalists from a wide variety musical genres participate in the festival for no other reason than to showcase their talents and engage the community.

The idea of bringing it to Westhaven came from Mark McCutcheon, co-founder of The Westhaven Foundation. With the walkable nature of Westhaven and the front porch lifestyle, along with the areas vibrant music community, it was a natural fit. With the support of  residents, HOA and Southern Land Company, it quickly became a beloved annual event and celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2022.

Our Porchfest is very similar to Ithaca with a schedule of assigned timeslots in several parks with homeowners to create their own Porchfest experience. One exciting difference between the original Porchfest concept and Westhaven’s event is the addition of an evening concert to wrap up an afternoon of music.

After wandering around the neighborhood enjoying intimate performances, residents and their guests will make their way to Town Center. This is sure to be the perfect end to a fun fall in Westhaven.