Grand Champion Band Needs Money for Rings

Friday, December 8th 2006, 7:52 pm

By: News On 6

If the Broken Arrow High School football team won a National Championship, you can imagine the hype that would surround it. Well, the Broken Arrow Marching Band did win a National Championship and they have to ask for some hype. News on 6 anchor Jennifer Loren says the band is holding a fundraiser this month in hopes of buying something special to remember their victory.

The Pride of Broken Arrow is the best in the nation and they have the trophy to prove it. But they want more, they want rings.

"We just kind of want something that every individual can have as something that they can always think back on and remember, just to commemorate the experience," said band member Leslie Benedict.

But without the money to buy their rings, they have to get creative.

Every Saturday this month the band will be at Johnnieâ€™s in Broken Arrow taking care of all of the customer service aspects of the store.

"We wanted to show them that we support them. We stand behind them and we wanted to do something for them," said Matt Taylor of Johnnieâ€™s Charcoal Broiler.

Johnnieâ€™s has agreed to donate 15 percent of their sales to the band's cause plus tips. They're the first, but hope more local businesses catch on.

The Band Director says the kids deserve it.

"These are the future leaders of our country. These are the best and brightest kids in the area and we hope that people recognize that," Supervisor of Instrumental Music Scott Tomlinson said.

The kids say years from now the rings will help them remember their time in the national spotlight as the Pride of Broken Arrow and the Pride of the Nation.

"And I'll present it to my grandkids or great grandkids, of course my kids, and be like hey, this was something I was a part of. This is very precious to me and I'll just be able to tell stories about it" band member Jonathan Anderson said.

The band members will be helping out at Johnnieâ€™s in Broken Arrow every Saturday this month between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. You can donate there or at Citizens Security Bank.