Music: Green Notes

This spring, Lilith Fair—the green, women-focused music festival that’s heading across the country in July with performers like Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones and Erykah Badu—has announced a partnership with Touchpoint Trust Group’s i4c (“I foresee” a better tomorrow) campaign. The goal of i4c is to back “leaders who have the passion, products and services to truly reshape tomorrow” in their sustainability efforts.

“Especially in this time of economic hardship,” Casey Verbeck, CEO and founder of i4c says, “it’s important to support these companies that are trying to make a difference.”

In addition to individual contributions made by attendees, $1 per Lilith ticket will be donated to three or four social enterprises. The companies chosen will be present at the tour in an “i4c Village” where they will be able to present and advertise their products and services.

Lilith has taken major steps to make the tour more eco-friendly through its partnership with tour-greening outfit Reverb. It’s using biodiesel tour buses, selling food in biodegradable containers, employing widespread waste reduction and recycling and purchasing carbon offsets. The companies i4c will support—contenders include literacy-supporting enterprise BetterWorld Books and recycled bag company Rebagz—are green-minded, too.

Over the years, Lilith Fair has drawn over 1.5 million fans and raised over $10 million dollars for national and local charities. Lilith Fair founders McLachlan, Dan Fraser, Marty Diamond and Terry McBride have targeted a $3 million investment partnership for the Lilith i4c campaign. Says McBride: “By contributing a portion of Lilith’s profits to a for-profit campaign now, we are creating a sustainable way to fund Lilith’s nonprofits in the future.”

“We’re trying to help nonprofits continue their mission,” Verbeck adds. “Our end goal is for this nonprofit effort to be sustainable and carry on, and for the stories from these companies to drive others to support and drive other initiatives.”

CONTACTS: i4c campaign; Lilith Fair.