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Wesley Chapel High's band kicks off a fundraising campaign today to play in the city's New Year's parade.
By MICHELLE JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 18, 2000
WESLEY CHAPEL -- Last summer, band director Mary Harvey received a long-distance phone call from London.
It was an invitation for the Wesley Chapel High School Marching Band to participate in the New Year's Day London Parade. An exclusive invitation, in that the Wildcats would be the only Florida band to join in the festivities.
"I was surprised and excited," said Harvey. "I knew there would be a lot of hard work involved so I went to my band boosters first to ask for their support. They said yes."
Band Aid 2000, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, will kick off fundraising efforts to send members of the band and chaperones to London in December.
Under Harvey's leadership, band members are trying to raise $200,000 to travel to England to march in the parade, and do a little sightseeing while they are there.
This parade is hyped as the "greatest New Year's party in the world."
During today's fundraising event at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel, a classic car show, auction, entertainment, food and door prizes are planned raise some of the needed money. Admission to the event is free.
Featured throughout the day will be a 50/50 drawing at 3 p.m., a raffle of more than 30 items and an auction of a microwave oven, retired McDonald Beanie Babies, a golf bag, food and a silver medallion with retired baseball player Don Mattingly engraved on it with a certificate of authenticity. Fried alligator is on the menu along with hamburgers, hot dots, popcorn and snow cones.
"We have space for 120 classic cars and trophies for the top 60," said Thomas "TJ" Chandler, a booster and the parent of three of the band's color guard.
A few of the cars registered are a 1926 Franklin 4-door limousine, a 1949 Chevy Coupe and an Oldsmobile wagon/truck known as an REO Speedwagon.
"Most people from my generation remember the REO Speedwagon band," said Chandler.
Total cost for the trip, per person, is $1,680 and will include air fare, hotel accommodations, two meals a day and sightseeing costs.
"I think the educational aspects of this are wonderful," said Harvey. "This is a once-in a-lifetime experience for the kids and for myself."
Daniel Fagan, 15, who plays the drums, is looking forward to traveling to England because he has never been out of the United States.
"Being a new school, this will give us an identity," said Daniel.
The invitation to participate came from a parade patron who travels to Tampa to vacation each year.
"He heard about us being a new school and invited us," said Harvey. "Last year Lake Gibson, from Lakeland, was in the parade."
Jacquelynn Gillespie, 17, who is the band's drum major and plays the French horn, is excited about traveling to a place where she has previously only visited in books.
"To go to London has been a life dream," she said. "I fell in love with the city through the old Sherlock Holmes literature. I love archaeology, and I want to visit the British Museum where they have the best display of Egyptian artifacts in the world."
It rained on the very first parade in 1987, and few people turned out; however, organizers decided to try again. This year, more than 12,000 performers from around the world attended, and more than 1-million spectators lined the route that begins at Parliament and ends at Piccadilly Square.
"It is very prestigious to be invited," Gillespie said.
In addition to the marching bands, the parade will feature cheerleaders from the United States and around the world, helium-filled balloons, theatrical groups, clowns, vintage vehicles and floats.
Outside of Band Aid, some band members are raising some of their own funds.
Keila Ponce, 16, president of the band, works part time as an attendant in a hair salon and babysits. She has saved $300 so far.
"This is an awesome opportunity for a new school," she said.
Harvey hasn't decided what the band will play in the parade; there is plenty of time to decide, she said.
"The kids want Stars and Stripes, but I'm not sure yet," said Harvey.
But what she is sure of is the project's being a great way for the students to focus on a common goal.
"It is a great way to bring unity to a new school," said Harvey.
Other means of raising funds are a fall golf tournament and writing letters to residents and business people in Wesley Chapel and to members of surrounding communities in hopes of gaining support.
They are also washing cars -- lots of cars.
-- Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. She can be reached at (813) 226-3459. Her e-mail address is jones@sptimes.com.