Winterfly gathering supports Sussex Academy music program

Firefly Music Festival fans from across the country attended the third annual Winterfly in Dewey Beach Feb. 24 and 25. The event was started in 2015 by Jesse Berdinka of Pennsylvania, Erin Coffey of New Jersey, Michael Greco of Pennsylvania, Courtney Jones of Maryland, and Anna Moshier and Tom Schatzman of Delaware to provide Firefly music fans with a beach weekend to celebrate music, friendship and fun.

Each year the weekend kicks off with a party and ticket auction at the Starboard. Items are donated primarily by Winterfly attendees and include Firefly tickets, original artwork, concert tickets, gift cards and more. In celebration of their love of music, the group donates the auction proceeds to the Sussex Academy music program.

"We are thrilled to be the recipient of the Winterfly donations. To date, the gift amount has exceeded $3,500," said Sussex Academy music teacher Gerald Birl. "Because of the group's generosity, we have been able to purchase two timpani, a djembe [African drum], shaker, wood block and cowbell. We also purchased music that specifically calls for a combination of these items. Additionally, we were able to pay to move our donated baby grand piano and buy a dolly for it."

Sussex Academy is a public, charter, tuition-free school in Georgetown serving sixth through 12th grades. The school practices a project-based learning approach, and all 11th- and 12th-grade students are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program. For more information, call 302-856-3636 or go to www.sussexacademy.org.