COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Marching Band has met its donation goal to get to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thanks to a donation by USC Basketball Coach Dawn Staley, Football Coach Shane Beamer, and music superstar Darius Rucker.
The school announced Tuesday that the three had each donated $25,000 to the cause of helping the band travel and stay in New York so they can perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28.
“We are incredibly grateful for these generous gifts to the Carolina Band,” said Dr. Jay Jacobs, Director of Athletic Bands at USC. “Shane Beamer and Dawn Staley have always acknowledged the support of The Carolina Band and the USC Basketball Band. Darius’s donation highlights the bond that USC alums feel for the university and The Carolina Band. Support from these three Carolina legends will help make this a truly unforgettable experience for our students and an exceptional showcase for USC.”
The band had been picked to perform in the iconic parade last year, and started a project to raise money to send the full band to New York. During that time, almost 1,500 fans, alumni, families, businesses, organizations, students, and campus and community partners had donated. The money will be used to transport, house, and feed the 400 band members, faculty, and support staff that will travel.
The band is set to leave early Sunday morning.
This is the first time in the Carolina Band’s history that it has been invited to participate in the parade that began in 1924, and the school said it will serve as a showcase to the nation of group known as "The Mighty Sound of the Southeast." Members of The Carolina Band represent nearly every College and School on campus, come from 10 states, play 17 different instruments, and entertain as Coquettes, Feature Twirlers, and Colorguard.