GGF Honors Mike Kennedy of Splintered Sunlight and Say Yes Philly!

On July 3, 2026, Grateful Guitars Foundation will celebrate Mike Kennedy, rhythm guitarist of legacy Philadelphia-area Grateful Dead tribute Splintered Sunlight, with the gift of a custom Blackknife model guitar built by Rich Hoeg of Hoeg Guitars in honor of his twenty-five years of bringing the music of the Grateful Dead to life for fans throughout the Delaware Valley and Mid-Atlantic region.

In honor of the presentation, Grateful Guitars Foundation will also make a $5,000 donation to Say Yes Philly!, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that strengthens individuals and connects diverse communities through arts, music, and cultural programming. Founded by performing arts entrepreneur and advocate Vince Johnson, Say Yes Philly! takes a grassroots approach to arts education working directly with neighborhood educators and community leaders to tailor programming to the communities they serve. Their teaching artists reflect the neighborhoods they work in, and their commitment to emerging Philadelphia-based artists is grounded in twenty years of advocacy and collaboration.

The presentation will take place at Dead, White & Blue, a Fourth of July weekend outdoor concert at Heuser Park in King of Prussia, PA, produced by Rising Sun Presents. The evening will feature Splintered Sunlight and Loose Leash Collective (ft. Dogs In A Pile members Sam Lucid & Jon Colman, Johnny Kimock, Ian Gray, and Arnetta Johnson), and the gift will reflect the community’s deep appreciation for Kennedy’s dedication to this music and to the region that has embraced it.

This gift reflects a connection that runs through everything Grateful Guitars Foundation does: music thrives when artists who carry it forward are supported, and when the upcoming generations around them are given the tools to participate.

Tickets for Dead, White & Blue are available now. Those who cannot attend can support both missions by donating directly to Say Yes Philly! or Grateful Guitars Foundation.

Tickets: https://www.tixr.com/groups/rsp/events/dead-white-blue-ft-splintered-sunlight-heuser-park-182935
Learn more about Say Yes Philly!: https://www.sayyesphilly.com/