[RED BANK – JULY 22 2024] – The KFC Foundation is giving back to the Red Bank-based non-profit Count Basie Center for the Arts, granting them $10,000 to make a project on their wish list come true.

Kentucky Fried Wishes, one of the KFC Foundation’s community giving programs, invites non-profit organizations to apply for a grant to fund a project on their wish list. This year, the KFC Foundation will fund $1 million in Kentucky Fried Wishes to 100 non-profits nationwide, with 25 grants awarded quarterly based on different project categories.

The $10,000 grant will go towards expanding accessibility at the Basie Center’s Phoenix Productions building, home to the organization’s community theater company, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, and various arts education programs. The grant will allow for construction of an ADA-accessible ramp and push-button door opener, plus DA-compliant interior door hardware, LED dimmable lighting, and compliant light / sound controls.

“We are so grateful to the KFC Foundation for this generous Kentucky Fried Wishes grant,” said James Grausam, Managing Artistic Director at Phoenix Productions. “Inclusion and accessibility is key to our community theater company, and this generous grant from KFC Foundation allows this facility to be open to more people than ever.”

“As the KFC Foundation celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to grant 100 Kentucky Fried Wishes totaling one million dollars this year,” said Emma Horn, Executive Director, KFC Foundation. “We’re proud to support these non-profits in furthering their missions and grateful for all they do to make a difference in their communities.”

Kentucky Fried Wishes is just one way the KFC Foundation supports, empowers, and serves joy to KFC restaurant employees and communities. The KFC Foundation also provides programs focused on education, financial, and hardship assistance for KFC restaurant employees, and a food donation program to fight hunger and food waste.

The KFC Foundation receives financial support from Round Up fundraising and its annual donation program, a voluntary program where KFC franchisees donate to the KFC Foundation every time they order a case of Secret Recipe Fries.

The next grant cycle for Kentucky Fried Wishes is running from July 15-31 with a focus on expanding access to food and shelter. Non-profit organizations seeking funding for a project within that scope can learn more and apply for a grant at kfcfoundation.org/wishes.

About the KFC Foundation

Celebrating its 25^th year of changing lives, the KFC Foundation, an independent 501c3 organization, has provided over $36 million to support, empower, and serve joy to more than 16,000 students, KFC restaurant employees, and non-profits. The KFC Foundation’s charitable programs focus on education accessibility, financial & hardship assistance, and community giving, all made possible by Round Up donations, purchases of KFC’s Secret Recipe Fries, and other contributions. For more information, visit kfcfoundation.org.

About The Count Basie Center for the Arts

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region.  As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. The Basie Center has hosted an array of world-class artists, including Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Crosby Stills & Nash, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr. Count Basie Center programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.thebasie.org.