SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Potomac Valley Audubon Society and the Shepherdstown Public Library each received $5,000 donations from the proceeds of Shepherdstown Street Fest, during the 2018 Check Ceremony and Sponsor Recognition at the Bavarian Inn on July 30.

According to Street Fest Board President Bob Keel, the recognition was held for the silver level and up Street Fest sponsors, to thank them for their donations of at least $500. The annual event was held for the first time this year in conjunction with the check ceremony.

“Years ago, when we started the festival, when our organization took over in 2010 or 2011, we made the decision that any proceeds we would raise, would go to charity. We always pick a regional and a local charity to benefit from the event proceeds,” Keel said, mentioning charity suggestions are accepted from the Street Fest board, prior to each Street Fest celebration.

Keel said Street Fest’s proceeds often mirror the amount of sponsor donations to each year’s event. While donations are not as high as they were when the festival started, this was the highest amount of donations received in the last three years, according to Keel.

Street Fest Board Treasurer Mike Zagarella agreed, and said the charitable donations mostly come from beer sales.

“Usually, what we get to give away, is what we make from the beer sales at the festival,” Zagarella said, mentioning the beer sales are thanks to a group of four Shepherdstown men who work the beer sales tent together every year — Shepherd University Vice President of Administration James Vigil, Shepherd University Foundation President Chris Colbert, Shepherd University Assistant Athletics Director Aaron Ryan and Mayor Jim Auxer.

According to Shepherdstown Public Library Director Hali Taylor, the donations will bring the library one step closer to paying for its new building.

“I was surprised by the amount,” Taylor said, mentioning Street Fest has donated once before to the library, in 2012. “It’s an honor to be singled out by this group, because they work so hard, and do so much for this town. I think they understand what the library is attempting to do for this community, and I really appreciate that.”

PVAS Board President Suzanne Offutt and PVAS executive Director Kristin Alexander said the funds will go to the organization’s Raise the Roost Chimney Swift Tower, which will be built by the organization to replace the chimney swift tower lost with the May 2017 demolition of Sara Cree Hall.

“We’re at about 33 percent at this point, and this campaign will help us build a new chimney on Shepherd’s campus,” Alexander said, mentioning the 30-feet-tall chimney will be used by the chimney swifts for nesting and migration, and will make it possible for researchers to study the mosquito-eating birds on Shepherd’s campus.

For more information about the building campaigns visit www.potomacaudubon.org and www.lib.shepherdstown.wv.us/libraryproject.html.