$17,000 Raised After Marching Band's All-Day Uniform Bowl-A-Thon Fundraiser

There was nothing uniform about the diverse group of Greendale bowlers that gathered together at Serb Hall last Sunday other than a common goal: uniforms.

 perennial state champion high school marching band and its leader, Tom Reifenberg, hosted an all-day bowl-a-thon fundraiser at Serb Hall on April 3 in an effort to offset the high cost of new uniforms for its members.

After winning six consecutive state titles the marching band needs to look spiffy in their uniforms.

More than 80 current freshmen, sophomores and juniors turned in pledge forms (based on bowler's average score) in hopes to raise enough money to afford new uniforms for the upcoming fall season. The entire cost of one uniform is between $290 and $300.

Some generous individuals (or families)  have simply offered to donate the full cost of one uniform instead of pledging so many cents per bowling pin knocked down. In addition, many businesses have stepped forward to sponsor this event and have so far added an additional $2400  to the fund.

Together, the total raised after the bowl-a-thon is now more than $17,000 which Reifenberg called "absolutely outstanding."

"Many kids have gone above and beyond," Reifenberg said. "We have one student bringing in over $600 and another over $500. Many people have chosen the straight donation option and over $9000 of our money is coming from donations. We are getting closer and closer to our goal of $20,000 and I have no doubt we can do it!"

The nine-hour bowling event included a raffle for prizes and an all-you-can-eat $5 buffet for participants and guests. It was an often raucous affair with much laughter, loud music and the kind of fall-down, through the legs and behind the back bowling styles you don't see every day. Reifenberg couldn't thank Serb Hall enough for its generosity.

Also, there is an0ther new way to get in on the act and help the GHS marching band earn more money for uniforms. In celebration of the company's 90th anniversary, Waterstone Bank is sponsoring an online voting competition for charities and schools, and the band is now on the list. Throughout the month of April people are allowed to vote as often as they like. The group with the most votes at the end of the month receives $30,000 and the next four receive $15,000. Go to this site and "Vote Now": http://www.wsbonline.com/anniversary/Default.aspx