Libertyville High School Marching Wildcats Present Waukegan High School Bulldog Marching Band With $3,400 Donation

If you bring two marching bands together for the presentation of a $3,400 fund-raising check, the event most certainly will involve some band enthusiasm and excitement. Waukegan High School Director of Bands Mike Kennedy and drum majors Brandon Carranza and Lorin Kidwell visited Libertyville High School's marching band practice Sept. 19 to receive the check from LHS band members and to thank them. Drum majors Noah Kublank, Chad Matulenko and Katie Olson, along with spirit leader Albert Sterner and LHS Director of Bands Adam Gohr, represented the LHS band at the check presentation.

During summer band camp, LHS band students participated in their annual Change Drive fundraiser, which involved collecting pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesday, quarters on Thursday and folding money on Friday. Student band leadership chose nonprofit Bravo Waukegan as the recipient of the funds they raised, asking specifically that the money be given to the WHS marching band. Bravo Waukegan is a Lake Forest-based nonprofit that supports the Waukegan public school's music programs by providing needed music resources and programs.

"The Change Drive is part of our charitable outreach that we do at band camp every year. Our students are excited to see how the money that they raised will have a positive and direct impact on Waukegan's marching band," said Gohr.

"We're very appreciative of the donation. The funds will be used for several specific projects including purchasing much-needed marching band equipment for the color guard; providing a professional teaching guest artist to work with the jazz band; and purchasing mellophones, which are marching band French horns," said Kennedy. "We also appreciate Bravo Waukegan's role in helping us make these connections."

Added Karey Walker, Bravo Waukegan executive director, "We're thrilled to be involved in bringing together students with a passion for music in meaningful ways. We appreciate Libertyville High School's support. It's exciting to see how students can have a positive impact on each other."