WILLMAR -- The first fund-raising gala for the Willmar Public Schools Foundation will showcase arts and academics in the district while raising money to pay for new marching band uniforms.
The foundation's board of directors discussed the May 4 gala at its meeting Monday. The board plans to make the gala an annual event.
The gala will begin with appetizers at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center. A program from 6:45 to 8 p.m. will feature presentations from music and speech students, as well as demonstrations of some of the equipment and programs the foundation has helped support.
Tickets for the event are $25 per person. The committee organizing the event considered a higher ticket price but did not want to make it too costly for families of students, said Superintendent Kathy Leedom.
"We're hoping it will be a ticket price that will allow parents to attend," she said.
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For those who want to contribute more, the committee designated some categories in keeping with the band uniform theme.
For $250, a contributor will be considered an honorary band member; for $1,000, an honorary drum major; and for $5,000, a marching band benefactor. Benefactors will have their names on a banner carried in front of the band.
Duininck Bros. road construction company donated $5,000 in December and issued a challenge to other businesses to contribute. The foundation also contributed $5,000 in December.
Interest in the marching band has waned at the high school in recent years, but two band directors are hoping to field a newly outfitted band in area parades this year. The cost of new uniforms and associated equipment is expected to be about $40,000.
Also at the gala, the foundation will award its first Hallmarks of Pride awards to former art teacher Audrey Falk and Willmar graduate and stage director David Esbjornson.
Board Chairman Orlo Almlie said he believed the business community would be generous in supporting the marching band and the gala.
"I think it's a great community project," he said. "It does promote the community, a marching band. No question about it."
The board also approved several funding requests.
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Eight Senior High students will get a little help paying for their trip to a national competition.
The Foundation Board of Directors spoke with six of the eight Business Professionals of America students before approving a donation of $800 to provide $100 toward the cost of each student's trip. The national competition will be in Orlando, Fla., in May.
The board also approved donating:
- $600 for "Welcome to Kindergarten" bags to be given to incoming kindergarten students during meetings this spring. The bags will contain books, activity books, crayons, scissors and glue.
- $200 to pay the activity fee of a student who is going out for track.
- $100 to pay the fee for a student to play in an all-star hockey series.
