The Paoli Blues Fest encourages community involvement by sponsoring and hosting events for public benefit and enjoyment, including a diverse realm of blues musicians. By promoting blues music in the community, we increase awareness and preserve, cultivate, nurture, and promote an appreciation and understanding of blues music in general, its historical influence and importanceas an American cultural expression, and its relevance to thelocal history of the area. The annual free-to-the-public concert is attended by thousands of people from throughout the mid-Atlantic region. In addition, the Paoli Blues Fest asks attendees to donate canned goods for local food banks. To date our attendees have donated thousands of pounds of food. And the organization has also provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to studentsto study music at a number of local music schools.