Bluebird Foundation Announces No Christmas By The Lake CD

Volume 14 of the Christmas Project will not hot happen this year and the project will come to a halt.

The Bluebird Foundation releases an annual collection of local musicians doing Christmas favorites that benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth and Northern Lights in its early years and now focuses on local kids who want to further their education in the arts by granting scholarships. The past 8 years it has been the major fundraiser for the Bluebird Foundation.

Tracy Lundeen, creator and longtime producer of the project said in a press release that they have had a "fabulous 13 years and some great music performances by musicians from around the area and those with ties from around the area who wanted to give back"

The Bluebird Foundation sent out an email to all the musicians who have participated over the years saying a special thank you for all the money they raised and a message commending all the people that were a part of the project, saying "we couldn't have done it without your talent". They also thanked everyone that supported the CD and purchased it too.

According to the press release, the Bluebird Foundation was able to give out over $40,000 in grants and scholarships to high school-aged kids in the performing arts largely due to the CD that came out every year.

The Bluebird Foundation would also throw a CD release party to celebrate and raise awareness that the CD. The Bluebird Foundation will continue to present a Christmas by the Lake Concert every November with a silent auction as their major annual fundraiser (this year, due to COVID, it may look different) and they will continue with other fundraising efforts.

Tracy Lundeen said this was not a COVID-19 decision, it had to do with the fact that people were not buying CDs anymore and it never took off for downloading.