Fans of the West Virginia University Marching Band have once again gone above and beyond in support of the Pride of West Virginia. The WVU Foundation announced Thursday (Nov. 7) that the 2013 Pride Travel Fund has received a record $103,232 from 941 donors to date, breaking last year’s record of $103,083 from 892 donors.

The annual campaign was established to help defray the costs of travel for the band, including transportation, hotels and food for the nearly 400 members and staff. A check presentation will take place during halftime of the WVU vs. Texas game Saturday night (Nov. 9).

“The generous support of alumni and friends 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 of our fans, we are able to carry the Mountaineer spirit far and wide.”

With the financial assistance of private donors, the University and the WVU Athletic Department, the Pride was also able to travel to the first away football game of the season in Norman, Okla., Sept. 7 against the Sooners. The band also traveled to M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, when the Mountaineers took on the University of Maryland Sept. 21. Along with the football games, the Pride also participated in several exhibition shows across the state and region this fall.

“The generous support of our alumni and friends to the Pride Travel Fund campaign has allowed the WVU Marching band to travel to away games once again this year including its first Big 12 road trip,” said Mary Esposito, assistant director of the Foundation’s University Fund and director of the Pride Travel Fund campaign. “Without private support these trips wouldn’t be possible. We’re extremely grateful for the continued support.”

Since 2007 – the first year of the Pride Travel Fund – donations have allowed the band to travel to away football games at Auburn, Cincinnati, Connecticut, LSU, Louisville, Marshall, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse and Washington, D.C. Contributions have also helped the band to travel to exhibition shows and parades across West Virginia and surrounding states.

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

Gifts to the Pride Travel Fund also count in A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The goal of this comprehensive campaign is $750 million. For more information, visit www.astateofminds.com

The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU.

-WVU-

ab/bn/11/7/2013

CONTACT: Jay Drury, WVU Marching Band
304-293-3097
or
Mary Esposito, WVU Foundation
304-284-4016

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.