The West Virginia University Foundation announced today (Nov. 22) that the 2011 Pride Travel Fund has received a record $92,320 from 780 donors to date. This year’s campaign surpassed the previous record of $86,000 raised in 2010.

The annual campaign was established to help minimize the financial burden of travel for the WVU Marching Band, known as the “Pride of West Virginia.” A check presentation with the band will take place during halftime of the WVU vs. Pitt football game Friday (Nov. 25).

With the financial assistance of the University, the athletic department, and generous donors, the “Pride” was able to travel to two away football games. This year’s destinations included Piscataway, N.J., and Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Rutgers and University of Cincinnati games. Along with the football games, the Pride participated in several exhibition performances across the state this season.

“The generous support of the many donors who have helped us to travel again this season is humbling to all of us,” said Jay Drury, WVU Marching Band director. “The members of the band are proud to represent both the University and the great state of West Virginia when we travel, and with the continued help from friends of the band, we are able to carry the banner for ‘Mountaineer Nation’ far and wide!”

Since 2007- the first year of the Pride Travel Fund – donations have helped to enable the band to travel to away football games at Auburn, Cincinnati, Connecticut, LSU, Louisville, Marshall, Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse.

To learn more about the Pride Travel Fund or to contribute, visit www.pridetravelfund.com

The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of WVU.

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CONTACTS: Jay Drury, WVU Marching Band
304.293.3097; jay.drury@mail.wvu.edu

Kristen Shipp, WVU Foundation
304.284.4016; kshipp@wvuf.org

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.