When I was in school, I raised money for my band trips by going door to door, selling frozen pizza kits. Today, my 12 year old niece is in marching band and I couldn't be more thrilled! Except, she lives in an isolated area where she doesn't have those same fundraising opportunities. Now that her first big band trip is on the line, I am using my platform to make sure she gets a seat on that bus!

The funds will cover her travel & accommodation expenses, uniform, meals, clarinet supplies, and group day activities for a trip to the beach several states away. However, this isn't just some vacation with her clarinet.

I'm not going to bore you with the important stats and studies that prove what music instruction and marching band can do for a child. I lived it. It gave me friendships that lasted long after high school. It taught me how to work with people who were completely different from me. Discipline. Responsibility. Perseverance. How to take correction. How to keep going when I was exhausted. How to be part of something bigger than myself. Those lessons followed me into adulthood & my professional life. The people I met through marching band remained friends long after graduation. That's why this means so much to me.

I remember what it felt like to stand beside my friends, exhausted after hours of practice, and still have to get back on the field and do it again. The pride of finally getting something right after struggling with it. Learning that if I didn't do my part, I wasn't just letting myself down, I was letting down the people standing beside me. Those experiences helped shape who I became. Now I have the chance to help give my niece some of those same experiences. Memories. Friendships. Confidence. A sense of belonging. And the opportunity to discover a little more of the person she's becoming.

If you'd like to help her make it to the beach with her band, we'd be incredibly grateful. If you're not in a place to donate, sharing this post is also appreciated!