Donations Sought For Beloved Woodford Folk Festival Founders After Hitting Tough Times

The beloved founders of Woodford Folk Festival have fallen on tough times - so their sons, Tom Hauritz and Jack Hauritz are calling for donations from the Woodfordia community. 

As the GoFundMe page reads, “Bill and Ingrid Hauritz dedicated their lives to the arts and music world, ultimately creating something truly special—the Woodford Folk Festival. Since founding it in 1987, they poured their hearts and souls into building a world-renowned event and organization known for its positive contributions to the arts, the environment, and countless communities. They worked tirelessly until they stepped down, utterly exhausted, in 2023.”

And, since then, the Hauritz’s have endured disaster after disaster.

“Just days before Christmas 2022, and the first festival since COVID, their family home of nearly 40 years burned to the ground. What followed was an exhausting multi-year battle with an insurance company that broke their spirits and left them short-changed.”

To add insult to injury, on a well-earned holiday to Bali just last year, Ingrid seriously injured her back - and Bill suffered a stroke and a foot injury, which later became septic and required multiple surgeries.

“Months later, back in Woodford, living in makeshift housing, [Bill] suffered another, more severe stroke during the most recent Folk Festival. Since then, he has been hospitalized, transferred six times, and recently suffered a fall that broke his knee and further damaged his already fragile eyesight.

“Bill and Ingrid have spent their lives giving—to Woodfordia, to the arts, to the festival community, and to so many causes bigger than themselves. Now, we’re asking if you can help give back to them in their time of need. Please know we don't feel comfortable asking and do not ask lightly, so please accept our thanks in advance for any support you can offer.”

This desperate plea comes out of necessity for the Hauritz’s: “Despite everything they have been through, Mum and Dad would never ask for help. They are givers, not takers. But this time—they need it. Between temporary housing, medical emergencies, transport, ongoing care, and a house that still stands in ashes, the financial strain is overwhelming and the future uncertain.”

All donations will go toward Bill’s medical care, the couple’s housing situation, and the many costs they face.

“The past few years have been unimaginably hard,” their son wrote. But, thankfully, the Woodford Folk Festival family has been generous, already raising $19,376 out of the $50,000 goal.

“Any donation, big or small, will help. If you can’t donate, please share this with others who might be able to. Or if you would like to offer other forms of support, feel free to contact us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”