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AthFest Educates
PO Box 327 - Athens, GA 30603
706-548-1973
www.athfesteducates.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Allen (706) 490-7188 media@athfesteducates.org
ATHFEST EDUCATES LAUNCHES ONLINE AUCTION OF GRETSCH GUITAR SIGNED
BY WIDESPREAD PANIC
Athens, GA - (April 30, 2015)--Local music and arts education non-profit AthFest Educates this week
launched an online auction of a Gretsch electric guitar that will be signed by all the members of
legendary Athens band, Widespread Panic. The fundraising effort aids the organization in giving grants
to local educators to advance their art and music related initiatives for Athens area young people in
kindergarten through eighth-grade. The bidding is already underway at BiddingOwl.com and will go
until the last day of AthFest, June 28th, at noon, when the winner will be announced.
The Gretsch Tennessee Rose electric guitar was built new in 2000 in the Gretsch Chet Atkins tradition
and has been kept in the collection of the Gretsch Foundation ever since before it was generously
donated by the Gretsch Foundation to help support AthFest Educates This year marks the 61st year
since the signing of the original endorsement agreement between Chet Atkins and Gretsch. A collector
hard cover book describing the Chet Atkins 2010-2011 Exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame
in Nashville, Tennessee is included along with a copy of the 2007 Chet Atkins-Gretsch guitar story and
catalog for further reference to the tradition. A hard shell Gretsch guitar case is also included. The
whole package (without signatures) has a $1700.00 retail value. Bids can be placed online here, or the
guitar and bonus items can be bought now for $3000.00. The guitar can be shipped to the winner,
should s/he not be present to win.
AthFest Educates Executive Director Jill Helme said that they are, “honored to be associated with the
tradition of the Gretsch Foundation and excited to give people an opportunity to own such a beautiful
and unique item, while also raising money to help support music and art programming for young
people in our community.”
AthFest Educates advances high-quality music and arts education for local youth and the Athens
community through direct support of school and community-based programs and events, including an
annual music and arts festival.
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AthFest Educates advances high-quality music and arts education for local youth and the Athens community through direct
support of school and community-based programs and events, including an annual music and arts festival.