US Cellular donated $1,500 worth of items to the Pride of Durant Booster Club recently as part of its Gift of Connection program.
The company says the donation is one of 50 gifts to nonprofits across the country. The company is helping organizations by providing needed supplies in gratitude for their dedication to building connection through art, music and sports in their local communities.
The Pride of Durant Booster Club is a nonprofi t organization of parents, guardians, family and alumni that volunteer to help the band in numerous ways, including meal arrangements for students during band camp, serving meals to students during football tailgate, prop production for marching shows, bus, equipment and spirit volunteers during marching contests and other out of town events. They also help with the concession stand and other operational assistance during solo and ensemble contests, plus support cash register operations during the summer Fireworks World fundraiser, and organizing and staffing other fundraising and celebratory events.
The band received a computer to use during their performances and 48 music stands.
Head band director Chris Gregg said they were contacted by US Cellular last year who said they wanted to donate goods to the band.
“Basically, I told them about some of our needs and the amount of money that they were looking at donating in products were music stands and another computer to help with particular our marching show as things became more electronically oriented,” Gregg said. “It’s a pretty nice donation and we can always use music stands.”
Skyelar Perkins, band booster co-president, said in a news release that the booster club is grateful to US Cellular for the generous donation.
“As a nonprofit, we’re always in need of items to help our kids succeed, and this donation will keep the focus on band activities so they can continue to do what they do best - perform - which builds strong connections to the community,” Perkins said.
Craig Andrus, US Cellular store manager at Tulsa Hills Shopping Center, said the donation is part of the company’s commitment to connect people to what matters most.
“We’re honored to give the gift of connection this holiday season as part of our Gift of Connections program,” Andrus said. “Today, we’re excited to be here with the Durant Band Booster Club to support its mission of supporting The Pride of Durant Band.”
Joe Cabrera, director of sales and operations for US Cellular in Durant, said the company is proud to provide the donation to the Durant Band Booster Club because it is a pillar of support and inspiration in the Durant community.
“Giving back is a part of US Cellular’s commitment to connect people to what matters most, and we’re honored to give the gift of connection this holiday season,” Cabrera said, in a news release.
Gregg spoke of this year’s successful season for the band which included the recent Durant Bands Christmas Concert.
“We had a really good, great turnout for the concert,” Gregg said. “I feel like, particularly, our younger three groups did a wonderful job. The future of our program looks really good after hearing them. I’m really proud and pleased with the staff and my high school kids have had a great semester and I know they’re all real tired. I know I am. So, we’re ready for rest.”
More than 1,100 toys were donated at the concert to be provided to the OKDHS Bryan County Child Welfare Program. More than $3,100 was also collected that was provided to a family in need due to a crisis.
“I’m very proud about that,” Gregg said. “That’s such fantastic.”
The band earned multiple awards during the marching season, including the Tigerpalooza festival at Ada that Gregg said was “a sweep” for the Pride of Durant.
“We grand championed there and grand championed at the Chickasaw festival,” Gregg said. “We came in 11th in our class at OBA, Oklahoma Bandmasters, but was fan favorite of the day. Then at OSSA, our Oklahoma Secondary Schools Regional Contest, we earned state superior ratings, so that helps us. That’s the first step towards earning sweepstakes which we’ll do hopefully in April with concert band and sight reading. There are a lot of good things going
