PULASKI, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The annual Rose Parade in Pasadena is 11 months away, but the Pulaski Music Program is preparing now.
It held its biggest fundraiser Sunday, with proceeds going to help send the band and choir to the big event in California.
For the first time ever, the Pulaski Choir will tag along with the band to attend the 2024 Rose Parade.
“They just reached out to choir and were like, ‘hey we’ve seen all the work that you guys do too, we’d love to bring you along as well.’ Choir has never gotten to go to Pasadena before so this is a first for us,” says Pulaski High School Choir President, Audryn Just.
With over 200 students signed up to go next January, the program will have to do additional fundraising to help cover costs.
“The cost is about $2,600 per kid right now to get to Pasadena so it’s a big chunk of money…our goal this year is to be able to contribute to every student’s trip,” says the Vice President of Pulaski Music Boosters, Nikki Love.
Love says that Sunday’s Chili fundraiser is the biggest of the year.
“We broke records last year, we were at about $14,000, and ticket sales are even higher this year so I’m hoping we break that record again,” says Love.
At the fundraiser, people could purchase chili and baked goods as well as bid on raffle items.
Since the band has not been able to go to the parade since 2017, more students will be able to attend.
“Our super seniors, so the students that would have recently graduated at the end of this year will be able to go on the trip as well, we’ve also extended it a grade lower so our current seventh graders who will be eighth graders next year will also have the opportunity to go on both band and choir side,” says Pulaski High School Assistant Director of Bands, Michael Guerrero.
One of the seniors who will go once they are graduated is Pulaski High School Band President Callie Widi.
“Since COVID and that kind of switching and not really knowing if I’ll be able to go, that’s really exciting that I’ll have the opportunity to come back as a super senior and go,” says Widi.
Each student puts in around 500 hours of practice before heading to the January 1st parade.
“Its going to be a lifetime memory for them,” says Guerrero
At the end of the fundraiser, the Pulaski Music Boosters received a $30,000 donation from The Village Companies.
Comments