The Sidney High School Chorus, from Sidney, Nebraska is traveling to Washington, D.C. the first week of June to represent Nebraska in the 2004 National Festival of the States. David Mead, choir director, and his team, created a fundraising website and have planned and carried out several successful fundraising activities to fund this choir tour. Being located in a town of 6,000 people, the task to raise $70,000 for the trip seemed daunting at first. However, with several ingenious ideas and lots of hard work, the Chorus was able to raise a total of $77,000!

One of their successful fundraisers was a benefit auction. The town was very supportive in donating several items from appliances to pianos and organs. Services for the auction were also donated. Several from the community came out to support the Chorus on a cold spring morning and helped the Chorus to raise over $6,000. Another successful activity was a raffle around Easter which netted them another $7,000. With the help the Sidney Sun-Telegraph, David Mead turned a lot of attention toward his small town and the High School Chorus. Thanks to such publicity, several veteran posts and individuals donated thousands from all over the state. Click on the following links to follow the Sun-Telegraph’s coverage of the choir:

October 10, 2003 - SHS choir invited to attend national choir festival
January 27, 2004 - Donations boost SHS Choir trip to Washington, D.C.
February 12, 2004 - Choir seeks items for auction to finance trip
February 24, 2004 - Auction raises $6K for choir; more fundraisers planned
March 4, 2004 - Benefit movie proceeds to aid choir fund-raising effort
March 19, 2004 - Choir campaign gets a boost; plans Monday concert
April 5, 2004 - Colonels join list of donors to choir’s fund raising drive
April 7, 2004 - Mead ‘roast’ added as fund-raiser