Wyandotte Marching Chiefs Raise $2,300 for Camp

While other high school students are enjoying their summer vacation, members of the Wyandotte Marching Chiefs are learning valuable lessons about what it takes to run a marching band program.

The students recently took to the streets of Wyandotte to raise money to help fund their summer band camp program.

Some students washed cars at the high school, while others serenaded people walking in downtown Wyandotte.

"Our summer fundraisers called 'tag day' have been a big part of our fundraising plan for six years, and have aided the band to be able to raise necessary funds to begin a new band season,” said Mark D'Angelo, Roosevelt’s instrumental music director.

The events are called tag days because donors receive a donation "tag" with the dates of the band’s upcoming performances.

June 17, which doubled as Wyandotte’s , was the largest, single “Tag Day” the band has had since starting the fundraiser in 2006, D’Angelo said.

On that day alone, the band raised $2,300, he said.

"Every year, I am more and more amazed and grateful to the Wyandotte community for how they support our band,” D’Angelo said. “The marching chiefs are always appreciative of the supportive community in which they are a part.”

Fresh off their performance, the band has already started rehearsing and preparing for the fall 2011 season.

The band's first local performance will be during the . The band also will do an impromptu performance at the at 6 p.m. July 16.