Watch CBS News

Plymouth-Canton Marching Band Seeking Help Online For New York Trip

The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is seeking help from the public online to finance a trip to the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

PCEP's Marching Band is in the running for a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh program -- Pepsi's program to forego an expensive Super Bowl ad and instead donate an equivalent amount of money to worthy causes around the country.

This month, more than 170 projects are competing for a top 15 finish to win a $25,000 grant, and with just under three days left in the month, it's a neck-in-neck race.

The boosters and band members are asking the Metro Detroit area to help out by visiting www.refresheverything.com/pcep-macys2011 and voting daily for Help the PCEP Marching Band go to 2011 Macy's parade. Only one vote per email account is permitted per day.

People can also text 106715 to Pepsi (73774) to vote from a mobile phone.

Power votes are permitted too, and these special mystery codes are the key to winning this grant at this late stage. Power votes are found inside yellow caps of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Pepsi Max and can be worth anywhere from five to 100 votes in a single code. Some cases of Pepsi also contain the power vote codes. Up to 10 codes are permitted per email address.

Corporations, alumni, and friends can also donate directly to Plymouth-Canton Music Boosters, a non-profit organization. Each year, the boosters must raise more than $300,000 to run the marching band program, an extracurricular activity at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park. In addition to transporting the band to and from New York this year, all the instructors, uniforms, band camps, etc. must be paid. Visit www.pcmb.net for details on the sponsorship program for corporations and individuals.

"We need all of our friends, alumni, and boosters to support our fundraising efforts," said Erin Babcock, president of the 2011 Plymouth Canton Music Boosters. "The money raised this year will go towards the cost for the band to travel to New York City this November.  Plymouth-Canton is the first Michigan band on record to be invited to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. It's truly the Super Bowl for marching bands and we're so honored our kids were invited."

PCMB is a high school marching band comprised of students from Plymouth, Canton and Salem High Schools in Canton Township. The band has about 180 members. PCMB has won more than 500 awards in 25 years, with 22 State Championship titles from the MCBA- Michigan Competing Band Association. For more information, visit www.pcmb.net.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.