soon in the Valley of the Sun. It checks all the festival boxes and so much more — it’s rock ‘n’ roll with an extra dose of soul. Music to Our Ears M3F Fest is one of North America’s most celebrated nonprofit music festivals, and it’s scheduled once again in downtown Phoenix on March 3 and 4 at Margaret T. Hance Park. All festival proceeds are donated to charity. You read that correctly — 100 percent of festival proceeds go to charity. For approximately 20 years, M3F (formerly the McDowell Mountain Music Festival) has not waivered in its commitment to giving back. Operating under the principle that each ticket sold goes directly to charity, festival operators’ claim that “every ticket counts” is literal in every sense. Last year, a record $1.2 million supported nonprofits, most of which are right here in the Valley. Organizations such as Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Arizona Helping Hands, Saving Amy, Hospice of the Valley, Desert Foothills Land Trust, TGen and more received funding from proceeds derived directly from the festival. This year, beneficiaries are tracking the same, with the majority of proceeds allocated remaining local. As an expansion to the mission’s outreach, the newly launched M3F Fund opens funding to the public with a year-round application program for nonprofits seeking support. Through the M3F Fund, qualified organizations are welcome to submit an application detailing how funds will serve them. According to Warner Bailey, festival manager for M3F, “Our goal is to continue to find new partners in Arizona that have clear objectives and a measurable way to assess progress. We opened up submissions on M3F Fund to help us find new charities that fall within those guidelines.” Setting the Stage The evolution of M3F has been significant. The brainchild of John Largay, founder of Phoenix- based Wespac Construction, Largay was searching for a team-building event that his employees could collaborate on while giving back to the communities where they worked and lived. In 2004, M3F launched, thanks to the exuberant efforts of Wespac employees and volunteers. From there, the project blossomed, transforming year after Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers will headline M3F Fest, which returns to Phoenix on March 3-4. Noteworthy acts this year include Jamie xx, Polo & Pan, and Toro y Moi ( above ). Photo by Chris Maggio CREATING CULTURE 16 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

year in attendance, proceeds and anticipation while never drifting from its mission to give all proceeds to charity. The combination of giving back, camaraderie among the Wespac team and creating a fun community event was trifecta gold. Since 2004, $4.4 million has funded numerous community projects. The Set List Last year’s festival welcomed 15,000 attendees daily during the two-day event. This year, organizers expect more great music as the 2023 lineup booked by Largay’s son, RJ, was announced in late 2022. It includes artists such as Grammy-nominated vocalist Maggie Rogers, French electronic duo Polo & Pan, Tory y Moi, Quinn XCII, and German disco and house producer Purple Disco Machine, alongside local musicians and additional artists from around the world. The range of musical genres is diverse. From indie, pop, R&B, electronic and more, the mix of artists is part of M3F’s attraction. Single-day tickets, weekend (two- day) tickets and VIP options are available through the website, with a layaway payment plan offered as well. continued Canadian indie-pop band Peach Pit will take the stage at Margaret T. Hance Park. At Remedy Salon and Spa, our goal is to take great care of all who enter and the community in which we live. Located in Scottsdale’s highly desirable McCormick Ranch neighborhood, Remedy Salon and Spa is adjacent to some of the most popular coffee shops and restaurants in town. Book online at remedysalonspa.com 8220 North Hayden Rd, C-110 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-794-1754