FHS band raises funds for Macy’s Day parade
Posted on Sunday, August 26, 2007
Wet bleachers and periodic rain showers didn't keep Fayetteville High School band members from installing 6, 000 "Razorback seat backs"in the Reynold's Razorback Stadium on Saturday.
"I had a lot of calls at about 6 a.m. today from people wanting to know if we were going to reschedule because of the rain," said Michelle Yocum, Fayetteville Band Boosters vice president. "But most of them were here before I even arrived this morning."
Yocum said most students didn't mind sacrificing their Saturday morning if it meant getting a step closer to attending this year's Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade.
"Each student is responsible for their own trip to a degree," she said. "They realize that mommy and daddy aren't just going to hand them the money. They have to be responsible for themselves."
The seat backs are available to any season football ticket holder for $ 1. So far, 4, 500 seat backs have been sold, leaving 1, 500 available.
"We've been contracted to install and de-install the seats and to do customer service during the game," said Linda Scogin, publicity manager for the band. "The seat backs will remain affixed to the seats so the individuals don't have to do a thing or worry about carrying them around."
Scogin said the seat backs will be installed before the first football game and remain in tact until the last game of the season. Band members and parents will have a booth set up during each game to assist Razorback fans who encounter problems with their seat back or who need to place an order. The seat backs will be available for the entire football season.
"The company that manufactures and sells the seats contacted us," Scogin said. "This is the first time they've done them here, but I know that they do them at a number of other universities too."
Adorned with a white Razorback sketch atop a red backdrop, each two-inch thick waterproof cushion provides Razorback fans with the perfect combination of comfort and school spirit.
Scogin said this year marks the Fayetteville High School Band's 10 th anniversary to attend Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"It's a huge honor," she said. "You have to apply and be invited. We sent in a video and a resume and they selected us out of ten high school bands in whole country. We are very excited about getting to go this year."
Yocum said band members'dedication and discipline are what set them apart from other bands across the country.
"Our kids want to do a good job for themselves," she said.
While the band hasn't set a specific fundraising goal yet, Yocum estimated the trip's total cost at about $ 200, 000.
"We have 186 students that will be attending the parade for their first time this year," she said. "The seniors got to go on the last trip, so they won't be going this year."
Scogin said the band's last big trip was to the Rose Bowl Parade two years ago.
"We took 207 students to the Rose Parade," she said. "Last year, we only went on a small trip."
The students'theme for this year's parade will be "Magical Mystery Tour."
"It won't all be Beatles related though," she said. "First, they'll do a pre-walk and then they'll do the actual march during the parade."
The installation of the Razorback seat backs was the second student-sponsored fundraiser this year to raise money for the trip. Earlier this month, students were paid by the University of Arkansas to help move new freshmen into their dorms. During the first football game of the season, band members plan to raise additional funding by parking cars.
"It's only going to cost $ 10 to park your car," Yocum said. "We'll be parking them at the high school on Harmon Field. We also have an area for tailgating available for a cheap price."
Other fundraisers include parking during all UA men and women basketball games, assisting during the UA's scholarship walk and a walk-a-thon scheduled for September 15 at Harmon Field. Band Boosters also raise money by running a small concession stand in the north end zone at Harmon Field during all home Fayetteville High football games.
"We have so many parents that help out," Yocum said. "I'd say we have about 100 people helping to install the seat backs today and it's about a 50-50 mix of parents and kids."
Seat back order information is available at 1-800-601-1920 or on-line at: www.
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