By Sue Moore
“Who can resist free money?” asked Craig Rolfe, announcing the Vicksburg Band Boosters spring raffle with cash prizes of $2,500, $1,000 and $500. Tickets cost $10 each, with proceeds allocated to replace many aging instruments in the program.
The instruments needing replacement are sousaphones, mellophones, marching cymbals, concert double French horns, concert tubas and a bass trombone. Band Director Ben Rosier estimates the cost at more than $100,000. “The school budget simply cannot finance that need, which is where the Boosters organization can step in,” Rolfe explained. This is a pre-sale raffle with tickets available from Rolfe at his law office on E. Prairie Street, several other area venues, band families and the high school main office.
Fundraising coordinator Kelly Noteboom is in charge of the raffle with a goal of $25,000 to be put toward instrument purchases. The band will again field over 200 members for the 2018 marching season. Several years ago, the Boosters had a fundraising drive to buy all new uniforms as an initial purchase. When the band grew to over 200 more uniforms were needed. The community responded with enough donations so the band had new uniforms for all of its members beginning in 2016.
Other fundraisers have included the Glo-Run in the fall and trips to Disney World fundraisers. The band has applied to march in the 2018 Thanksgiving Day Macy’s parade in Detroit.