Donations matched for new GHS band endowment
GREENCASTLE -- Marjorie Secrest, a mother of five, including a set of quadruplets, decided to take action when she learned about the lack of musical offerings available to students attending Greencastle High School. With support from GHS Principal Randy Corn and Superintendent Bob Green, Secrest established the Greencastle High School Band Endowment, administered by the Putnam County Community Foundation.
"We hope the Endowment and our support will inspire new pride and enthusiasm in the Greencastle community for the GHS Band," said Secrest.
The GHS Band Fall Concert will be Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Parker Auditorium. Secrest is organizing a coffee and dessert bar for the concert, and proceeds will benefit the band's new endowment. Every contribution to the endowment will be matched 50 cents on the dollar, up to $4,000, by the Putnam County Community Foundation.
Current band director Robert Hedge is delighted by the new endowment. The GHS Band has participated in the Indiana State School of Music Association (ISSMA) contest for 17 years and received a gold rating in 14 of those years. However, Hedge reports serious needs.
"We need a lot of new percussion equipment as well as a couple of baritones," Hedge said.
Because the school has little funding to purchase new equipment, Hedge reported that parents must purchase or rent instruments for their children, which can be cost prohibitive. The endowment will be used to meet the hardware needs of the Greencastle High School Band program, such as repair and replacement of instruments, and purchase of music, music stands and uniforms.
Contributions to the endowment should be made payable to the Putnam County Community Foundation with "GHS Band Endowment" in the memo, and mailed to 2 South Jackson Street, Greencastle, IN 46135. Anyone may contribute to the endowment to help the GHS Band reach new levels of achievement and involvement. Community Foundation staff are available to help donors make gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, real estate and other types of gifts to the Endowment.
The Community Foundation administers more than 180 funds for donors, supporting a variety of charitable purposes. To learn more about this new fund, how to make a contribution or how to start a new fund, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact Eric Wolfe or Elaine Peck at 653-4978.