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Published: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 / Updated: Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 08:19 AM

Fort Mill High band just $15,000 shy of trip to Dublin

FORT MILL -- 

The only thing now standing in the way of the Fort Mill High School marching band and Dublin, Ireland, is $15,000.

The Dollars for Dublin campaign has raised just over $100,000 after the most recent tally last week. Fort Mill Band Booster Club President Dawn Rackley said she has been thrilled with the support of the community.

“It’s a huge, monumental amount to raise. Unprecedented, really,” Rackley said.

In November, the band, invited to perform in Dublin for the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day parade, revised its original goal of $100,000 after learning about an increase in airfare from Charlotte to Dublin. They increased the goal to $115,000 and scheduled additional fundraisers to cover that added cost.

In just the four weeks of December, the band raised more than $20,000. It was a busy month for the group. In addition to a poinsettia sale, which netted nearly $2,000, the Dollars for Dublin campaign also hosted a holiday fair that earned them nearly $3,500.

Most weekends found band parents and students spread out among yards all over the township, raking leaves and earning money toward the goal. The Raking to Dublin fundraiser netted the group nearly $3,500.

The Scrap to Gold fundraiser continued to be successful in December and will continue in January. The band welcomes donations of scrap metal, particularly aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel.

Individual donations and business sponsors also continue to come forward, band staff member Jason Ford said.

“Thank you to the band parents and students, business partners and donors, FMHS faculty and administration, and all of the Fort Mill/Tega Cay supporters who helped us reach $100,000,” Ford said.

“We are grateful and humbled by the community’s tremendous support since we kicked off the campaign on March 17. One hundred thousand dollars in nine months is a great testament to the business community and citizens of Fort Mill/Tega Cay, as well as the hard work of our band parents and students.”

In February, a Mardi Gras themed dinner will be held at the Glennon Center, with the Fort Mill High School Jazz Band performing and traditional New Orleans food served. The Mardi Gras Dinner will replace the Taste of the Town event which was previously announced.

For more information about the Dollars for Dublin campaign, go to fortmillhsband.com or email events@fortmillhsband.com.