Help me march the 2014 Boston Crusaders

Dear Potential Supporter,

I am Joao Paulo Castro, from Vitoria, Brazil but currently residing in Deerfield Beach, Fl and going to school in Davie, FL and my passion is music. Now you may think its any type of music, but it's not, my passion is for orchestral, symphony, and concert ensemble type of music as well as the marching arts type. I have been part of music programs in school since my 5^th grade year! Since then all I have been "up to" is band.
After three years of middle school band, I joined the high school program, and loving the marching band. As most of you know marching band is only in the fall (August "“ November) and after that I missed marching band. I wanted to do more time in marching band as well as get better. So I decided to join what is called Drum Corps. Drum Corps is marching band but at a professional level. After one year with Teal Sound Based out of Jacksonville, Florida), and one with Cascades(Based out of Seattle, Washington) and now I've been selected to march with the Boston Crusaders(Based out of Boston, Massachusetts)
What is drum & bugle corps?
A musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments and color guard Drum corps perform in competitions, parades and other civic events Shows are performed on football fields and are judged in various musical and visual categories/captions
Who are the Boston Crusaders?
One of the world's elite musical pageantry units One of the oldest, most recognized, names in the activity New England's only world class drum corps Premiere Boston youth activity Founding member of Drum Corps International Over 150 performing members Travel over 12,000 miles each summer Perform in more than 40 competitions/shows.
What do you do with our money?
Over 60% of our operating expenses (food, travel & instruction) will be covered with your generous donation
Who we are as a Drum Corps?
We are composed of members that come from all different parts of America as well as different countries. We are the only group from Massachusetts competing in the World Class of Drum Corps, composed of 150 members ranging from ages fifteen to twenty-two (Brass, Percussion and Color Guard), along with an instructional and administrative staff of over 40 educators. I will be taking the ride of a lifetime to attend the World Class Drum Corps International(DCI) Finals that will take place in Indianapolis in the famous Lucas Oil Stadium from August 7-9, 2014.
How does this happen?
This summer our group will be traveling over 12,000 miles throughout the East, South and Midwest of the United States in route to Indianapolis, IN to compete in the Drum Corps International World Championships and represent the state of Massachusetts. We will be traveling from May 16, 2014 all the way through August 9, 2014. During this time we as members have the opportunity to continue our passion for music, and music education. Drum corps is a demanding activity that requires self- discipline, motivation, and drive, while at the same time, building young athletes into talented adults.
The legacy of Excellence!
The Boston Crusaders have a long legacy of excellence, winning their first championship as a drum corps of CYO(Catholic Youth Organization) in 1964 and making their first appearance in Drum Corps International finals in 1999 and continuing until today. In 2002, Boston got its highest score in the DCI circuit with a 92.40. The latest excellence achieved by the Boston Crusaders was playing in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade (http://www.cspanvideo.org/clip/4323221), Which I was a very own participant.
My Responsibility you ask?
As a Member of Boston Crusaders, each participant is responsible for an all-inclusive tuition of $3,600. This includes fees and meals 4 times a day, and helps to offset a small portion of the expenses for transportation (5 charter buses, 3 semi trucks, an RV, a box truck, merchandise truck, and chase car), lodging, instruction, equipment, and uniforms during the summer. I know times are difficult for everyone, but I am asking for your contribution of any amount you may be able to spare. Any donation is graciously accepted to support me in raising funds for my journey with the Boston Crusaders. In return, you will receive a shirt from me with your personal name or your company's name on it and the Boston Crusaders logo as a token of my appreciation.
Keep in mind that this is not a monthly thing its one time help and also The Boston Crusaders are registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.







What My Schedule looks like during the summer!
May 17 - 23 Perc Spring Training (Denton, Texas)
May 24 - June 8 Nichols College - 124 Center Road, Dudley, MA 01571
June 8 - 16 Eastern Nazarene College - 23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170
June 17 & 18 - Travel Rehearsal Dates
June 19 & 20 - Horseheads, New York
June 21 & 22 - Akron, OHio
June 23 - Bowling Green, OHio
June 24 - Battle Creek, Michigan
June 25 - Kalamazoo, Michigan
June 26 - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
June 27 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 28 - Jackson, New Jersey
June 29 - Quincy, Massachussets
June 30 - New Heaven, Conneticut
July 1 - New Heaven, Conneticut
July 2-4 - Britstol, Rhode Island
July 5 - Lynn, Massachusets
July 7 - Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
July 8 - Elkhart, Indiana
July 9 - Chicago, Illinois
July 10 -12 - La Crosse, Wisconsin
July 13 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
July 14&15 - Olathe, Kansas
July 16 - Wichita, Kansas
July 17 - Lexington, Oklahoma
July 18 - Houston, Texas
July 19 - Houston, Texas
July 21 - San Antonio, Texas
July 22 - Mustang, Oklahoma
July 23 - Mustang, Oklahoma
July 24 - Little Rock, Arkansas
July 25 - Huntsville, Alabama
July 26 - Huntsville, Alabama
July 28 - Atlanta, Georgia
July 29 - North Carolina
July 30 - Salem, Virginia
July 31 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 1 - Lawrence, Massachusetts
August 2 - Lawrence, Massachusetts
August 3 - Allentown, Pennsylvania
August 4 - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
August 5 - Centerville, Ohio
August 6 - 10 - Indianapolis, Indiana




How Can you help out?
One way is sending me a check!
"Pay To The Order Of" Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps and on the bottom where it Usually says "For" You would put Joao Castro and you can mail that check to
3919 Crystal Lake Dr
Apt 306
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
Another way to help me is by going to http://www.gofundme.com/23vty0 and clicking donate!
Another way is by sending me anything you have at your house that you don't want. My mom usually does a garage sale or goes to swap shop and sells some of my old stuff so I could march.
Anything helps!
Thank you for your time and thank you for reading this letter. I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Joao Paulo Castro
(J.P.)
Cell: (954) [phone redacted]
"Throw away the negatives, throw away the 'I Cant', throw away the impossible, and now the only thing left is the possible." - Michael Gray.