LIG Festival History

At Life is good , we're on a mission to spread optimism globally. And nowhere is that optimism more contagious than at Life is good Festivals. Life is good Festivals rally good people around a great cause. These free, homegrown, inspiring events spread good vibes by bringing communities together for good old-fashioned outdoor fun. You just can't sit still at a Life is good Festival. We play on the green grass all day long, with dozens of games and activities for all ages, from seed spitting and sack races to tug o' war, parachute play, and every ball game imaginable. We kick back too, taking in sweet live tunes from nationally-known musicians and enjoying great backyard food to fuel the fun.
It's fun for a larger purpose. A growing number of our nation's most vulnerable children need our help. We find creative ways to make a positive difference, raising funds on our morning Good Walk for Kids before each festival and through the sales of fundraising tee shirts nationwide. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the generosity of big-hearted communities coast to coast, and great support from our corporate partners, we've raised over $3.6 million to date for the Life is good Kids Foundation, supporting exceptional charities that help our most vulnerable children.
Since 2003, over 375,000 people have attended Life is good Festivals.

History of…Life is good Festivals rally good people around a great cause. All of our festivals are free to the general public. Money is raised through the national sales of Life is good Festival merchandise, our Good Walk for Kids fundraising walks held at each festival, the generosity of sponsors, public donations at the festivals, and additional Life is good donations. To date, over 300,000 people have enjoyed our good old-fashioned outdoor festivals, helping Life is good raise over $4 million to help our most vulnerable children.
How It All Started: Discovering Our Purpose
Life is good has received many memorable and moving letters over the years from people who feel a special bond with our products and the simple, optimistic messages they carry. This has been especially true of people who face great adversity. Providing hope and relief in a time of adversity was the motivation for Life is good's first significant fundraising effort following the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
 
The public's overwhelming response to our American flag tees enabled us to make a $207,000 donation to the United Way on behalf of families whose loved ones were victims of the terrorist attacks. That experience enabled us to see more clearly the opportunity to have a sustained, positive impact through charitable giving. Good, old-fashioned outdoor festivals seemed just right for our brand and our values.
Spreading Good Vibes Nationwide … and Beyond
We held our first fundraising festival in Portland, Maine in October, 2003. The response from the community was phenomenal and well beyond what we expected. Thousands enjoyed the day, and over $52,000 was raised for nearby Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
With every successive year, our Festivals have grown. In 2006, in addition to a big Boston-based Watermelon Festival and a world record-breaking Pumpkin Festival, 16 additional communities in 8 states outside New England held Life is good Festivals. For the first time that year, we spread good vibes from sea to shining sea, thanks to a strong partnership with Newland Communities, the nation's leading developer of master-planned communities.
October 21, 2006 was truly a day to remember. On that day more than 100,000 people attended the Life is good Pumpkin Festival in Boston and helped set a new world record for carved, lit pumpkins. And on the very same day, 15 different Newland Communities held Life is good Pumpkin Festivals in 7 different states. Together, we raised a whopping $590,000 for kids in need.
We held 18 more Life is good Festivals in 2007, including Life is good at Fenway, a unique celebration of good old-fashioned summer fun and Americana at Fenway Park, the nation's best-loved ballpark. A smiling crowd enjoyed a field of dreams day as they discovered colorful games, shows, activities, giveaways, contests and live music in every corner of Friendly Fenway. Together, we hit one out of the park — our biggest fundraiser ever, with a total of $802,636 raised for kids.
Only the Beginning
The progress to date is exciting, but we've only just begun. The Little Brand That Could is taking its festival train to Toronto, Canada in 2009 for our first major Life is good Festival outside of the United States. From there it's on to additional international cities in the coming years. We see a great opportunity to multiply smiles globally, and in so doing, to provide increasing levels of support to children in need.
The Life is good Kids Foundation was established to wisely and effectively distribute all money raised nationally through Life is good Festivals to the best organizations serving children facing unfair challenges. For more on our Foundation, click here.

LIG Kids Foundation- The Life is good Kids Foundation Mission
The Life is good Kids Foundation supports extraordinary charities that create a lasting positive impact on children facing unfair challenges, including the trauma of violence, poverty, and loss.
The Life is good Kids Foundation receives financial support from the public in several ways. Life is good donates 100% of its profits from the sale of fundraising tees and other products to the Kids Foundation. The public also provides funds via the charitable community fundraising festivals conducted by The Life is good Company in cities and states across North America. The Foundation distributes 100% of the funds received from these festivals to 501 (C) (3) non-profit organizations supporting children in need.

The Foundation provides grants to preselected beneficiaries; it does not accept unsolicited requests for assistance.
Donate to the Life is good Kids Foundation
Your contribution to the Life is good Kids Foundation makes a world of difference for kids in need. The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) public charity and your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law (Federal Tax ID No. 20-5524270).

Please send a check to the following address:
Life is good Kids Foundation
285 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115

Foundation Beneficiaries
Project Joy, the recipient of major support from the Life is good Kids Foundation, illustrates the kind and quality of nonprofit organization funded.