This project is now in update mode. Check back regularly to see how things are progressing.
Help the BMB march on!
If you've ever been to a UW-Eau Claire football game, Homecoming parade or one of the many other local, national or international events where the Blugold Marching Band (BMB) performs, you know the BMB is something special. With 400 members, the BMB brings energy to events around the country and the world while providing an experience for UW-Eau Claire students that cannot be found at any other university of our size in the country.
Unfortunately, the BMB is also one of the only bands of its caliber that is forced to charge its members for their participation due to a lack of funding. That's right, Blugolds who want to play in the BMB actually have to pay to be involved. That sad reality may prevent some talented students who might have the chops for the BMB but just can't afford it from joining.
The BMB needs YOU
A large marching band means larger expenses, and the BMB's budget from the university only covers a small portion of what it takes to operate a band of its size. Uniforms, instruments, and travel for the band are expensive, and the BMB relies on alumni and fans to continue marching. That's where you come in! Donations from the public make up the largest portion of the BMB's budget. Gifts of any amount will directly support the BMB's greatest needs. Give now to help with some of the BMB's most urgent needs, including:
- 100 new uniforms, many band members are wearing uniforms that are almost 20 years old ($600 each)
- Updated sousaphone section, 14 of the 20 current sousaphones have reached or exceeded their 15 year lifespan and 2 additional instruments are needed just to complete the current section (a minimum $6,000 each!)
- Copyright permissions for music ($5,000 for about 30 minutes of music)
- Many other operating expenses
Gifts of ANY amount will make a difference!
Adopt a BMB Member
With a gift of $250 or more, you can "Adopt" a BMB member! When you adopt a BMB member, you will receive a sponsorship package that includes a photo of your BMB member and his/her section in the band.
To adopt a BMB member today, make your gift of $250 and answer the questions about your sponsorship package on the giving page!
**We've extended the deadline of our campaign through the end of October! If you are adopting a band member after October 2, 2018, you will still receive a photo but we will no longer be able to offer the Homecoming tickets as part of your sponsorship package.**
$25
ANY amount counts!
Whether you can give $10, $25 or $250, your gift of any amount will make a difference. If all of our fans and alumni gave a gift of $25, the opportunities for the BMB would be endless!
$50
Copyright expenses
We can't have a Homecoming show without some great tunes. If 100 of our fans and alumni gave $50, we could cover the cost of our copyright expenses for our Homecoming show.
$115
The cost of our student fee
This season, each band member paid $115 to be a part of the BMB (this is on top of the out-of-pocket expenses that they will incur throughout the season). Your gift of $115 will help us get one step closer to minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for students band members.
$250
Adopt 1 BMB member!
With a gift of $250 or more, you can "Adopt" a BMB member! You will receive a photo of your BMB member with his/her section in the band!
$400
Adopt 2 BMB members!
Do you know two members of the BMB? You can adopt 2 members for $400! You'll receive two photos when you adopt 2 band members.
$600
Fund a new uniform!
With a gift of $600, you'll receive all of the perks of adopting a band member AND you'll help us purchase one of our new uniforms! We need to purchase 100 uniforms, so your gift will make a big difference.
$1,000
Sousaphones
We need to purchase a minimum of 16 sousaphones this year, each of which costs at least $6,000. You'll receive all of the perks of adopting a BMB member and help us cover 1/6 of the cost of a sousaphone!
