Launch the media gallery 1 playerWHS Band Donates Old Uniforms
March 27, 2014
Dear Mr. Washburn:
Once again, thank you for your generous donation of uniforms to the Ravens Marching Show Band of Athlone, Ireland. The uniforms arrived safely overseas during the Christmas break and were worn for the first time last week on St. Patrick’s Day. I was there to see the band march in three local parades including their hometown event in Athlone. The new uniforms were the talk of the town! They looked spectacular and you’ll be pleased to know the uniforms couldn’t have found a better, more deserving home.
Now that the band has a proper set of uniforms, it is expanding to serve more of the young people and families around Athlone. The group has doubled in size in less than a month. As we discussed on the phone, The Ravens are more than just a band, they are a youth organization that provides positive experiences for young people who would be considered “at-risk” in the USA. Most of the members come from broken homes with 90% of the members living with a single parent. Many are on assisted living programs. The band provides these families with a sense of pride and belonging. It’s no cliché that this group truly is like a family and relies on one another closely for support and hope for a brighter future.
This band makes a big difference in their community. I witnessed it firsthand. I can’t express enough how much the new uniforms will contribute to this group now and for years to come.
The band is currently working on defending its All-Ireland Junior Class Championship and will soon begin fundraising to attend the 2015 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.
I hope you will get a chance to see the Wesclin uniforms make it full circle back to the USA soon. Please share my thanks with your students, parents and administrators. Your uniforms are in good hands.
Best Regards,
John DeNovi
Director, Global Business Development
Drum Corps International
