Citadel Credit Union recently presented a check for $55,000 to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.

The donation represents 100 percent of the funds raised by the inaugural Citadel Palooza, the country music festival held Oct. 7 at Pottstown’s Memorial Park, writes Donna Rovins for The Mercury.

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More than 2,000 people attended the first ever Citadel Palooza — a day-long event that featured several artists, leading up to the night’s headline act: five-time Grammy nominee and country music singer Hunter Hayes. It also celebrated Citadel’s 80th anniversary.

In addition to music, the event included a variety of food trucks and a Sly Fox Beer Garden. Sly Fox Brewing also donated a portion of its sales from the day to CHOP.

“We are extremely proud to donate the Citadel Palooza funds to an institution that benefits our community in countless ways, such as Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,” Jeff March, president and CEO, Citadel said in a release. “Everyone in the Greater Philadelphia area has a CHOP story, which made our event more meaningful for all who attended. We are thrilled that Citadel Palooza was able to benefit the lives of patients and their families.”

A Citadel spokeswoman had previously told Digital First Media that the financial results of the event were “in line” with what the company anticipated, but that the event itself had exceeded expectations.

Citadel Palooza ticket sales, additional donations from sponsors and concert attendees, and a percentage of the Sly Fox Brewing beer sales totaled more than $55,000. Citadel has donated 20 percent of the funds to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Headache Education and Clinical Fund, and the remaining 80 percent to the Children’s Miracle Network Fund, according to the release. The check was presented Nov. 21.

Abigail Brooks, Citadel communications manager said in October the credit union had planned to have an event in Montgomery County, and once they saw Pottstown’s Memorial Park, they “could just envision the event being held there.”

Carter Winter and Alicia Beale, along with local performers Kendal Conrad of Pottstown, The Jess Zimmerman Band of Chester County and Stephanie Grace of Douglassville joined the Citadel Palooza lineup. All three local artists won the Citadel Palooza “Opening Act Contest” in September.

To read the complete story click here.

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