The Russellville High School Band Boosters, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Carpenter Foundation. This booster organization applied for a grant to help financially support the needs of the instrumental music program of Russellville High School.

The Russellville Band Boosters are very appreciative to the Russellville Board of Education for the financial support of the program. As boosters they felt they could also contribute to the financial needs of the program and applied for a grant from the Carpenter Foundation as a base amount of their $55,000 fundraising program called “Tradition of Excellence-honor the past and supporting the future”. The goal would be very difficult to reach had it not been for the major contribution from the Carpenter Foundation. This contribution along with our community sponsor program will be the foundation of this years fundraising program.

In 2007 the Kentucky Music Education Association (KMEA) made changes to the requirements of any band program that is part of the KMEA Sanctioned Marching Band Competitions. This new change requires each school participating to provide all the equipment needed to move all props, percussion pit equipment and other equipment to the competition field. This Carpenter Foundation grant award will allow the boosters to purchase truck and field equipment to be in compliance of this new policy.

This $55,000 fundraiser program will additionally allow the Marching Panthers to purchase other capital equipment needs and also to purchase new uniforms for next year.

The band boosters will be having a major fundraiser sweep the months of August through November. Some of the plans they have for this “Tradition of Excellence” fundraising program will be selling memorabilia items made from the RMS “old gym floor,” grill-outs, car washes, selling of Sol Azteca and Cattle Pen restaurant cards and many other fundraisers.

The Russellville Band Boosters are also pleased to announce they will be hosting the “31st Annual Show of Bands” the first weekend in October at Rhea Stadium. The Russellville Band Boosters wanted to make this a part of the Tobacco Festival celebration this year as a “thank you” to the local community for their support. There are plans to have many area bands at this competition. They will also be selling RMS memorabilia at the Tobacco Festival this year.

The Marching Panthers have been part of the rich history of the city of Russellville since the 1930’s. The boosters felt that it is important to honor those who have been such a key part of the marching panther program over the years and to help fulfill these needs of this program so that future generations could help continue the tradition.

The boosters are also offering a community sponsorship program as part of the fundraiser program. For more information call 847-3580, email rhsbandnews@hotmail.com or visit our web site www.rhsbandboosters.com.

The 2009-2010 Russellville Band Booster officers are: Brad Priddy- President, Theresa Shutt-Vice President, Pam Pate-Recording Secretary, Cindi Anderson-Treasurer and Vanessa Priddy, Public Relations.