“Class wars” helping raise funds for marching uniforms
Robbinsville – The Black Knight Marching Band is going to look sharp on the field in new uniforms, thanks to the support of the community.
Several groups – including band alumni – came together to purchase uniforms for the band, raising funds to the tune of $23,000, well beyond the original $17,500 goal needed to purchase 50 uniforms.
“I had gotten into the old band room, and looked through the uniforms from the 80’s and 90’s and then inventoried what was good at the high school,” said Robbinsville High School Band Director Amber Watkins. “I’ve always had a good relationship with The Band Shoppe, and sent a few ideas to my representative in their design department, just to see what he could come up with.”
Watkins said the representative was able to come up with a design showing the band’s tradition of sharp uniforms, while still being affordable. However, at least 50 would have to be purchased to keep the price-per-uniform down.
“I designed the logo that uses the traditional Knight head and an added musical note,” Watkins said. “I just loved the way it looked on the rendering The Band Shoppe sent me.”
To help with the cost of uniforms, Watkins appealed to social media, with several Black Knight Band alumni responding with donations.
Alumna Vicki Walsh donated $100 and said that she would like to see others from her graduating class do the same. Her post went viral among band alumni, with several donating toward the uniforms and classes of band members from different generations competing to see which could raise the most money in “class wars.”
At the most recent count, the Class of 1973 was ahead, pledging $3,942.83 toward uniforms.
Other participating classes include 1972, 1985 and 1983, as well as alumni of the 1952 Black Knight Band.
In addition to the former band members, several local businesses and other organizations made contributions.
“It just went viral,” Watkins said. “Former band members from far and wide – as well as community supporters – came out of the woodwork. In one week, the total was up to the $17,500 we were going to need to get the 50 uniforms on the way, and then the total kept climbing and within two weeks, we were just shy of $23,000.”
Watkins also asked for alumni to share pictures from their time in the band.
“We all had a blast reminiscing,” said Watkins, who is a Black Knight band alumna herself.