Am.F. band $60,000 short for trip

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 7, 2005 by Sharon Haddock Deseret Morning News

AMERICAN FORK -- American Fork High School's marching band aims to strut down Pennsylvania Avenue, hitting all the right notes for the country's newly re-elected president.

The award-winning student musicians are preparing to represent Utah at President Bush's Jan. 20 inaugural parade with the same flair that has garnered them wins at field-show competitions over the past two decades.

As of Thursday, however, the band was still $60,000 short of what it needs to get to Washington.

"We have raised $90,000 total so far," said Dan Adams, a band booster in charge of selling a Suzuki Forenza donated from Doug Smith AutoPlex in American Fork.

"We were hoping to raise about $15,000 with the car, but we have only had one bid so far, and he withdrew for lack of financing. What we were hoping is that someone could get a car for less than they could get it at the dealer and still get the band close to the market value."

The car is a Cobalt blue four-door economy vehicle that gets 30 miles to the gallon on the highway, 22 in the city. It has air conditioning, power windows, a CD/AM FM radio and air bags.

The market value of the car is $15,300, and minimum bids start at $10,000. Interested parties can call Adams at 756-3724 or see it at 266 N. 100 East in American Fork.

The band needs $157,000 to pay for the the 204 members to make the trip to Washington, D.C. In all, 300 people are flying out and touring with the band, but chaperones, parents and friends are paying their own way.

The money will pay for for airfare, lodging and meals for the band members.

"It's quite an adventure. It's the biggest tour we've done," Adams said.

Adams will be heading out five days before the Jan. 20 parade in a semitrailer truck filled with band instruments and uniforms.

"It will take 30 flights to get 300 people out there. We thought it was a little too risky to put the instruments and uniforms on the planes," Adams said. "This will ensure that they'll get back there safely."

Martin Lewis, chairman of the band's fund-raising effort, said the community has been supportive. "It's a daunting task to raise that amount of money in three weeks," Lewis said.

"It's been amazing to see the contributions. It's going to take a statewide effort to get the rest of the way, but we're optimistic. What we don't want to do is have to go back to the kids for the rest."

The Bank of American Fork, which has been collecting private donations for the band, has $56,000 in an account for the students. Of that, $20,000 is a donation from the bank.

Lewis said the band members have been working since they received the official nod to come to the inaugural parade; rehearsing long hours to learn brand-new music, marching the halls of the school to build up stamina and raising money on their own as best they can.

The band and its supporters hope to raise all of the money by Monday -- but will take all the cash people are willing to give, even if it comes on the day they leave.

"One group put down the horn cases at the Pleasant Grove Macey's grocery store and started playing for change," Lewis said. "They earned about $400."

How to help the band

Tax-deductible donations can be made at any Bank of American Fork branch or by mail to: Bank of American Fork, marketing department, P.O. Box 307, American Fork, UT, 84003. Checks should be written to the Alpine Foundation, c/o The American Fork High School Marching Band.

E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com