Albany State University marching band seeks funding for Rose Bowl Parade

ALBANY — Fundraising for the “Rams in the Roses and Beyond Campaign” is gaining momentum as Albany State University alumni are joining forces in support of the ASU Marching Band, the only band from Georgia or the Southeast scheduled to perform in the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1.

The campaign is designed to raise money to support the band’s trip to the parade, which will be seen New Year’s Day by more than 80 million viewers in more than 200 countries.

Officials estimate $250,000 is needed for travel, accommodations and ground transportation for the 150-member band. Efforts to date have garnered more than a third of the estimated cost.

At the recent 2015 ASU National Alumni Association Conference held in Columbus, local Chapter President Jean Lynn issued a challenge to all ASU alumni and other alumni chapters to give $1,000 to help send the band to Pasadena.

“If you are a true Ram, this is the time for you to prove it,” Lynn said. “This puts us on an international platform and lets potential students in other cities know what we have to offer at ASU. I encourage other alumni chapters to accept the challenge and help raise money for our band.”

The Columbus Chapter made a check presentation of $3,000 to ASU Band Director Michael Decuir.

“There’s no question this university, like other universities, survives and thrives because of alumni,” he said.

Chanta Haywood, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, said that class gifts, individual contributions and chapter fundraising efforts are up.

“We have seen an increase in alumni giving by 45 percent over the previous year’s giving. This is an opportunity for the alumni to give not only to support the band, but also to support the institution with recurring gifts,” Haywood said.

The band’s invitation to the Rose Bowl Parade has alumni from around the country getting involved and coming up with new ways to help raise money for the students.

“I am at the point in my life where I really want to participate, help others, and give back,” said 1996 ASU alumnus, Patrick Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, along with Anthony Black, Class of 2000, and Stacy Graham, Class of 1998, created the “Golden Ram Group,” a Facebook group with more than 1,000 ASU alumni who range in from the 1990s to the 2000s. The open group shares posts of ASU news stories and upcoming events, and also highlights recent alumni accomplishments and opportunities to give to the university.

“Through social media, we are able to get responses instantaneously,” said Wilkerson. “Young alums talk, communicate and convene through social media.”

Last month, the Golden Ram Group hosted the 2015 Rams Reunion in Atlanta, more than $2,000 from was presented to the university to help get the band to Pasadena.

“We all are getting older, the alumni association is working hard, but there is only so much they can do,” Wilkerson said. “The younger generations of ASU alumni … have to step up and give.”

To promote the Rams in the Roses campaign, the university recently launched a crowd-funding site “GoFundMe” on social media, with a goal of raising $50,000 by Sept.1. So far nearly $3,000 has been pledged. The #RamsintheRoses hashtag is also active on such social media sites as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote the campaign and provide opportunities to donate.

“We are proud of our alumni and we are thankful for their support because giving begins at home, but this is Georgia’s band participating in the Rose Parade. We are calling on all sectors of the community statewide to support ASU, asking everyone to support this effort. ” said Andrew Floyd, director of development. “After all, this is Georgia’s band.”

Decuir added with the Rams in the Roses campaign now in full swing, all ASU supporters are being urged to give, especially the alumni. “We can only go so far as the alumni will support us. We set a goal to go to the Rose Bowl and now we need alumni to help us get there.”

To donate to the “Rams in the Roses and Beyond” campaign, visit giveto.asurams.edu. or http://www.gofundme.com/RamsintheRoses .