SOLID Raises $40,000 For CMA Foundation

/by

SOLID Nashville presents CMA Foundation with a check on June 27, 2024 at the CMA Event Space in Nashville, TN. Photo: Britney Buckwalter/CMA

The SOLID organization revealed that they have raised $40,000 for the CMA Foundation during this year’s CMA Fest.

The Backstage Auction, held at Fan Fair X, offered festival attendees the chance to bid on various items including signed instruments, merch bundles, concert tickets and more. Those who could not make it to Nashville were also able to bid online. The auction was spearheaded by SOLID members Leah Ducey, Mark Thress and Samantha Funderlich. 

“Our record-breaking donation can be attributed to our continued support from CMA as well as the entire SOLID community coming together to ensure that we once again surprise and delight CMA Fest fans with unique offerings in new ways,” says Ducey. “We are so grateful to CMA for providing one-of-a-kind items and support throughout CMA Fest who ensure that fans know where to find our Backstage Auction online and on-site at Fan Fair X. We were thrilled to greet countless CMA Fest fans who return to our booth and look forward to finding items from their favorite country music artists year after year.

“Of course, none of this would be possible without the combined efforts of my co-chairs, Mark Thress and Samantha Funderlich, our entire SOLID 2024 Board and the SOLID organization as a whole for bringing in special items and exclusive experiences from country music’s biggest stars. I would like to take a moment to thank them all and express extra gratitude to our volunteers who truly made the entire Backstage Auction possible all weekend long. We are absolutely elated with the results this year and look forward to our continued partnership with CMA for years to come.”

SOLID President Rio Van Risseghem shares, “Every year our partnership with CMA on The Backstage Auction grows stronger and we are so thankful to be able to work with them once again. With the addition of some highly coveted items donated from CMA, we surpassed our CMA Foundation contribution from last year and finally hit an incredible $40,000 mark. SOLID’s Music Market Chairs, Leah Ducey, Mark Thress, and Samantha Funderlich rallied SOLID’s entire membership in securing donated items and staffing The Backstage Auction with SOLID volunteers for CMA Fest weekend.”

Madison Hahnen
Latest posts by Madison Hahnen (see all)