DCI corps band together to help high school in need acquire new instruments

Three of Drum Corps International's World Class corps, the Mapex Drum Company, and Columbus Pro Percussion have banded together to support the Watkins Memorial High School Marching Band following the high school organization's loss of thousands of dollars earmarked for new band instruments. The band's situation has been widely reported in the local media, and representatives from the band say that the group's financial crisis has left them with multiple problems, including many outdated and inadequate instruments. When Drum Corps International Director of Global Business Development John DeNovi and Jersey Surf Executive Director Bob Jacobs learned of the high school band's plight, they enlisted the help of other DCI corps directors. The group reached out to Mapex and Columbus Pro Percussion and mobilized many in the marching community to aid in providing the band with new equipment. On Monday, July 28, the DCI Tour stopped at the Emerald City Music Games at Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio. During the competition, representatives from Columbus Pro Percussion joined Jersey Surf, Pacific Crest and the Blue Knights for a special presentation of new Mapex marching percussion and a check representing the cost of the drums on behalf of Mapex and Columbus Pro Percussion to the Watkins Memorial High School Band. "This was a great opportunity for several corps to join with a valued partner to create a win/win for everyone," Jacobs said. "The Surf, Blue Knights and Pacific Crest are grateful to Mapex/Majestic for their support of our programs throughout the year, and we're very pleased that the students from Watkins Memorial will have the opportunity to find a silver lining in what's been a most unfortunate set of circumstances." A special fundraising website has been set up in support the Watkins Memorial High School Drum Line at GoFundMe.com.