The Auburn marching band received a $1 million donation from an Auburn alumna for its indoor practice facility.
Meredith Birchfield, class of 1971, donated $1 million that she earned from past investments.
Birchfield has always been a fan of the Auburn marching band since she frequently attends football games.
"I just think Auburn's band is just fabulous, not just the marching band, but also all aspects of it," Birchfield said. "They are so committed and it's so wonderful to see their commitment. I just think what they put into it should be rewarded."
Birchfield said she has always had a charitable heart, especially working with war veterans in Illinois and wanting to start an equine therapy program here in Auburn for individuals with special needs.
The donation brought the band's total money raised up to $2.7 million. The band's goal is to raise $5.5 million. The University will cover the rest of the cost to build the $11 million facility.
"Potentially people who were unaware that the band was trying to raise money to have a facility, now know how they could meet the needs of their band program," said Vivian Langley, director of development for the College of Liberal Arts. "Hopefully it will spur someone else or lots of other people to give to the band as well."
The athletics department has also donated $1.5 million to the band program.
"A lot of people have been giving and they continue to give," Langley said. "The thing that I emphasize always is that if people want to give, say $500 or $1,000, they can pledge it out over five years."
Donations can be made over a five-yera period. A $500 donation paid out over five years breaks down to $8.38 a month or 28 cents a day.
"When you look at wanting to help the future of the band program it seems extremely affordable," Langley said. "It's about participation. If everybody gave what he or she could, obviously we would move toward that $5.5 million really quick."
The band program has an outdoor practice pavilion to practice in now, but it does not provide adequate shelter for the band members during inclement weather, so the prime concern right now is safety, said Rick Good, director of bands.
Another concern for the marching band is places to store their instruments and uniforms, as well as, finding a place to change into their uniforms that does not involve pressing their faces up against the inside of a car window.
"They have a wonderful practice field now, but it's not close enough to our building where they can go back in forth," said Sara Lynn Baird, chair of music department. "They need a place where they can assemble and use separate rooms to work on sectionals, for example when the trumpets go in one room, the trombones go in another room, so they can practice to come all together on the field."
The indoor facility will also be used for the concert ensemble, like the concert band, symphonic band, percussion ensemble and potentially the orchestra.
Most of the fundraising for the indoor practice facility comes from Auburn alumni and marching band alumni.
Auburn's marching band also has to compete with other universities who already have an indoor practice facility for their band, Good said.
Compared to other universities, LSU, Alabama and Georgia, which have music schools, Auburn does not.
Because Auburn does not have a specific music school, many of the band members are various majors. The largest majority of majors are in engineering, Good said.
The band, as well as, the whole music department cannot thank the marching band alumni, parents of students and alumni in general, who have donated already, enough.
"What these students do for the band department, the University and the athletics is amazing," Good said. "They work very hard with hardly any recognition, but having people donate money the students are very excited that people are noticing them and contributing to building them a new home."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
