Pep the Band

In 2013, Huntington High School's Honors Program Seniors had to create a "passion" project, a project that helped the community in some way that was to be intertwined with something they felt passionate towards. Maggie Capehart, having seen some of her friends in concert and marching band struggle with paying for instrument repairs, uniform cleanings, and band trips, decided her project should be centered around helping band students. The issues with this project quickly multiplied: What if you don't get instruments - what do you report for your Passion Presentation? How could I get people to trust me to take their instruments? What if the instruments are in bad shape - how will I pay for that? How, then, would I get donations? This project quickly became complicated.

It was through finding Foundation of the Tri-State and the generous donations of supporters that made this project a success. By having an official philanthropic organization to back up this project, the cause was more trustworthy in the donors' eyes, donors would get a kickback from the tax-deductible donation, and Maggie had a team that could give the project publicity better than she could have ever hoped to have done on her own!

This also meant her high school project didn't stay in high school. As a college student, Maggie Capehart is still involved with the Pep the Band Fund. This project is currently accepting donations and giving Cabell County middle schools instruments.