COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The University of South Carolina (USC) Marching Band needs your help to get more than 375 of their members to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November.
Audra Vaz, The Assistant Dean for Advancement at the USC School of Music, told WIS for travel, room and board it will cost $1,500 per student and 35 faculty and support staff are going as well.
The cost is particularly high because the band — which is the largest student organization on campus — has to plan for the Clemson game two days after the parade, Vaz explained.
“The students will be on the road for an entire week,” Vaz said. “With transportation, housing, food and other expenses, the entire cost for 400 people is $650,000. We have raised about half of it so far, so time is of the essence!”
The cost of the parade is not covered by the normal budget, and Vaz said only 20% of the band students are music majors.
Their budget is set for football games and other regular performances.
“An invitation to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the National Championship for Marching Bands and an incredible honor,” Vaz said. “This is the first time in the band’s 104 year history that it’s been invited and therefore not a normal line-item expense that we or any band anticipates.”
How can you help the band raise the rest of the funds for the trip?
Vaz said you can go to their Crowdfunding page here.
There are other opportunities to help raise money as well.
“We currently have an online auction where people can donate and have unique experiences, such as marching in and sitting with the band during a home game, leading the fight song at the pep rally in Gamecock Park, or even shadowing one of our favorite Band alumni, Chief Meteorologist, Adam Clark at WIS10!” Vaz said.
You can find the auction site here.
Vaz also added there are sponsorship opportunities that come with some great benefits as well and people or companies can contact her for more information: audra.vaz@sc.edu
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