Newsome Band’s March to Macy’s Gets Boost from County

LITHIA, FL — With just over a month to go before Newsome High School’s Wolfpack Marching Band and Colorguard makes Hillsborough County history by appearing in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, fundraising crunch time has arrived.

The trip to New York City to appear in the 90th annual Macy’s parade will cost the band thousands, which is why its members are turning to the community for support. Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White recently presented a check for $5,000 on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners to offset travel expenses, but more funding is needed.

A GoFundMe account was established for the Joe. E. Newsome High School band back in December 2015. The Wolfpack learned in April 2015 it had been invited by Macy's to participate in the 2016 event. As of Tuesday, only about $7,500 of the $350,000 stated GoFundMe goal had been raised. The band has received a number of donations from corporate sponsors not reflected in that tally though. Sponsors include Newland Communities, Brandon Dental Care, All Phase Electric and others.

“Community involvement is paramount to our success,” Michael J. Miller, director of bands at Newsome said. “We do what we do not for ourselves, but for the greater Newsome High School community.”

Band students, parents and staff have been working hard to prepare for the Wolfpack’s national live television debut.

“The students have spent hundreds of hours practicing for this, our first performance on live television,” Miller said. “Our parent and community volunteers and sponsors have spent countless hours fundraising to help us meet our financial goals, as well.”

Newsome is the only band from Florida selected to appear in this year’s parade. It’s also only one of 10 high school bands picked from across the country.

The gravity of the honor is not lost on Miller, nor is he willing to take all the credit for the Wolfpack’s success.

“This accomplishment is so much bigger than myself,” he said. “It’s a testament to the students’ hard work and belief in our program, to the parents’ support of their children, and to the support of music education in our schools by our school’s administration, our district, etc.”

Music lovers who want to check out some of the state's best bands and help Newsome in the process are invited to attend an upcoming competition. Newsome is hosting to the Florida Marching Band Coalition state semi-finals on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. until noon. The Wolfpack will not perform at the semi-finals.

“Community members are encouraged to come see some of Florida’s best marching bands meanwhile financially supporting Newsome’s ‘March to Macy’s,’” Miller said.

Newsome High School is located at 16550 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. For more information about the band, visit it online. To make a donation to the March to Macy’s, visit GoFundMe online.

To watch the Wolfpack live on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, tune into NBC.

“This is a big deal for both Newsome High School and Hillsborough County as a whole,” said Commissioner White, whose district includes Newsome. “What better way to showcase our county than to have one of our high school bands appear on national television as part of this wonderful American tradition that tens of millions of viewers will be tuned in to. I encourage each and every citizen of Hillsborough County to tune in as the Wolfpack band showcases our hometown.”

Photo courtesy of the Newsome High School Wolfpack Marching Band