Sequoyah Band Faces Financial Troubles

The Band of Chiefs marching band has been invited to march in the 2011 McDonalds Thanksgiving parade in Chicago, but their trip might not be possible if fundraising efforts leave them short on cash.

This year the band’s transportation budget has been eliminated, and they already had a deficit of $10,000 coming into the school year after additional cuts last year, said Kerry Ollman, a band mom and member of the fundraising committee.

The invitation comes after budget cuts reduced the new instrument and repair allotment.

“Then we got this invitation to march in Chicago, so we’re hitting the fundraising really hard,” Ollman said.

The band has already done three car washes and raised around $1,000, but that doesn’t come near to the amount they need for all 150 students to go on the trip.

Each student will need to pay about $600 to go on the trip.

That falls on top of the $490 band fees—the cheapest in the county—required at the beginning of the year, Ollman said.

Additional trouble comes when parents have more than one child in the band or those who wish to be chaperones on the trip. Ollman said at least two parents had twins in the group who wanted to go on the trip.

Upcoming fundraisers include the Taste of Sequoyah, a possible wreath and Christmas tree fundraiser, and a possible fruit and nut sale.

Stay with Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch to see the different ways you can help the Band of Chiefs.