Albany Area Chamber Foundation donates $25,000 to Rams in the Roses Campaign

ALBANY — Albany State University’s marching band took a major step Tuesday in its march to California when the Albany Area Chamber Foundation presented a check for $25,000 to ASU in support of the Rams in the Roses campaign, a $250,000 fundraising effort for the ASU Marching Band’s participation in the 127^h annual Tournament of the Roses Parade.

“Albany State University is an incredible educational asset to Albany and Southwest Georgia, and its marching band has long been an example of excellence among its peers,” Jim Deal, chair of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, said during a Business After Hours event at ASU. “The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Albany Area Chamber Foundation are proud to support the ASU Marching Band and its scholar musicians as they represent the university, Albany and the Southeast on a world stage during the Rose Parade.”

The donation was the largest in the history of the Foundation. Renasant Bank also contributed $1,000 at Tuesday’s event.

As an Oct. 31 deadline for the targeted amount looms, the campaign now has $215,000 cash and another $90,000 in uncollected pledges.

“We expect the the next 10 days of homecoming and the Black Tie Gala in Atlanta will be huge for us,” ASU Director of Budgets and Institutional Advancement Rufus Davis said. “We are happy where we are now and confident we’ll make our goal of $250,000 and probably surpass that goal.

The university, buoyed by the success of the Rams in the Roses Campaign, on Wednesday announced a delay of the gala until the spring of 2016 and will shift the focus of that event to raising money for scholarships. Originally, the black tie gala was scheduled for Oct. 23.

The ASU Marching Band is one of four bands invited to participate in the parade and the only band to represent the southeastern United States – which is a prelude to the Rose Bowl, the college football playoff semifinal game and part of “America’s New Year Celebration.” The parade is expected to be seen New Year’s Day by more than 80 million viewers in more than 200 countries.

“The gift from the Albany Chamber of Commerce and its foundation is extraordinary,” said Albany State University Interim President Art Dunning. “It speaks to the strong partnership that exists between ASU and the business community. On behalf of Albany State and the ASU Marching Band, I deeply appreciate the support of this group of talented student performers who will represent not only our university, but, also our city and state in one of the oldest and most watched parades.”

“When our band marches down that Pasadena Street on New Year’s Day, they will take a big piece of the Albany Area Chamber and its members with them.”

The Chamber foundation’s contribution will help offset the money needed for travel, accommodations and ground transportation for the 150-member band.

To contribute to the Rams in the Roses campaign, visit www.gofundme.com/RamsintheRoses.

In regard to The Black Tie Gala, ASU officials said the university will host the gala at a later date with emphasis on helping raise funds for student scholarships.

“We are shifting our focus to scholarships because many students are leaving or are at risk of interrupting their education due to the dire need for financial assistance,” said Chanta Haywood, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation. “Many times, what they owe can range only from $500 to $1,000. If we can help our students with need-based scholarships — since our fundraising efforts are going well to get our band to California — assisting the students is our focus at this time.”

In September, the ASU Foundation provided $37,000 in scholarships to hundreds of university students who found themselves with unmet needs that would have caused them to be purged from the university rolls. For this academic year, the Foundation has been able to provide $87,000 in assistance to students in need.