Help send Angela Sanders to march in the Rose Parade

Hi my name is Angela Sanders and I just found out I have been accepted into the Salute to Band Directors Marching Band to march in the 2026 Rose Parade! I am sooooo excited! Seeing the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA has always been on my "bucket list" and how amazing would it be to be "IN" the Rose parade! There were over 700 applicants and there were 500 chosen….so honored!

I had the most awesome experience EVER marching with this group in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. There were over 400 band directors in New York City representing all 50 states plus Mexico and it was an honor to be chosen. We spent 5 days/4 nights rehearsing together, networking and making friendships, seeing some of the sights of the city, performing Taps and Amazing Grace at the 9/11 memorial (truly the most emotional experience of my life), and then marching in one of the most famous parades in the world. I didn’t know how all of those type A personalities of wanting to always “be in charge” was going to work out (times 400 of us) but we were like a bunch of kids just having fun making music together and it was just so good for my soul to be with people like me and doing this to represent not only ourselves but our students, school, community, and state.

I will have two children in college and am just thinking ahead as to how I really can't afford this but how much I TOTALLY want to go and have this experience again! It will cost approximately $3000 to go, not including my own transportation to get there and registration fee so it will be close to $4000. When I did the GoFundMe for the Macy’s parade I was sooooo incredibly thankful for the financial support I received and truly could not have made that trip happen without it.

I marched with the Alabama Million Dollar band from 1990-95 and go back to march in the alumni band every year. I am in year 30 of teaching middle school band at Appling Middle and have been blessed to teach so many wonderful students throughout the years. I would love to march with fellow band directors and show the world that "old people" still have it and can have fun marching and playing our instruments.

Please consider donating and help this dream become a reality. Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!!!!

Angela Sanders