Bobcat Band Commended for Incredible Generosity in Waco

Six buses carrying 280 kids unloaded at the mall in Waco following the Central High School state football game on Saturday, Nov. 29, hungry and ready for dinner on the hour and a half long break before departure back to San Angelo.

As the teens filtered off the bus, the chime of a bell rung out from the entryway, prompting student after student to empty change and bills from their pockets in a show of generosity that filled the Salvation Army kettle.

Standing to the side and watching the kids line up, tears welled up in CHS Band Director Joey Ashbrook’s eyes, as the teenagers continued to give rather than rush into the retail center.

“As the buses unloaded and the kids were going in and I walked up and saw the first group, one kid started putting money in and they all just lined up instinctively,” he said. “Out of 280 kids, I bet everybody but about 10 that I saw put money in. They waited in line, even. Instead of running in to get something to eat…they waited in line to money in the kettle.”

Ashbrook and the other adult counselors stood silently by and observed as the generosity continued; none of them had encouraged or prompted the students to make the donations.

“I was a little surprised—happily surprised—and I was a little teary-eyed, actually,” he said. “We always hear about the negative things of teenagers nowadays…These kids, all on their own—it wasn’t all change. I saw some putting dollar bills, $5 bills in the kettle all on their own. To me, I was very, very proud. Very proud that they were my group, number one, and just touched by their generosity.”

Once all of the kids had made their way to the kettle and into the mall, the bell ringer approached Ashbrook with misty eyes. She told him that in 30 years of ringing the bell each holiday season, she’d never witnessed a group of teenagers come through and put money in the kettle as they had.  

“She was amazed, not only at the generosity of the kids, but the politeness,” he said. She then asked for the school information and made a promise to contact Red Cross.

The trip had been a rough one for CHS students, who while in Waco were subjected to some harsh criticism and commentary from the opposing team. Despite the exposure to negativity, however, the students remained positive and exhibited exemplary behavior while out of town.

On Monday, the band will travel to Midland to compete for slots in the All-Region Band. The band has also been selected to perform at halftime at the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Some 240 kids will depart the day after Christmas for Orlando, where they will spend five days, performing at halftime and marching in the Russell Athletic Bowl Parade.

The Central band has never been selected to perform at the event before, and is one of only three high school bands to perform this year. The band was selected out of a pool of over 200 submissions, and upon receiving word in March, began a rigorous fundraising campaign in April to cover travel expenses.

Some 240 students will make the trip and raised the $400,000 as of last week with the help of local businesses, individuals and supporters.

“It was a lot of effort over the summer,” Ashbrook said. “The kids worked most of the summer trying to raise money.” He and the students thank the community, businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the school district for giving the students so much support and making the Orlando trip possible.

“I really was doubtful that we could do that,” Ashbrook said, referring to the sizeable fundraising effort. He noted that the cost is roughly $1,250 to $1,300 per student. “For most of our families that’s a lot of money. I literally had kids bringing me last week rolled change, rolled quarters, rolled dimes, making their last trip payment. And that was one of the other things that was so touching about the Red Cross drop in the bucket. Some of these kids are rolling money trying to get the Bowl game paid for, and yet they’re still donating to the red kettle.”

It’s been a busy year for the Bobcat band, and with the successes thus far and still to come, the students are both excited and a little tired, Ashbrook said. The halftime show is something all are looking forward to and there’s no mistaking how big of an opportunity it really is.

“We’re the main event,” Ashbrook said. “We’re taking a band of over 200; the other bands are taking about 40-50 apiece. They’re ecstatic and the parents are ecstatic, of course. The excitement is still pretty much overwhelming. It’s been a very busy year. The kids started the last week of July with summer band and we have not stopped since.”