Feb 6, 2024
3 mins read
3 mins read

Twin Cities Rotary clubs deliver $16K to school bands

FITCHBURG — The two rotary clubs in the Twin Cities once again delivered checks to benefit school bands in both cities – for the 26th time.

As a result of the annual Breakfast for the Bands fundraiser in November, the two clubs had nearly $16,000 to deliver to the Leominster and Fitchburg high school bands, $7,928 each, at an awards ceremony at Great Wolf Lodge Jan. 31.

Rotary Club of Fitchburg member Paul Gavin said that the first time they held this event, in 1995, they were able to deliver a $1,782.47 donation to each of the high schools’ bands. Gavin co-chaired the 26th annual event along with his Leominster counterpart John Tata.

Leominster High School Band Director Bob Bergeron said that the money they received would be used to “support many different band programs.” Fitchburg High School Band Director Tabitha Greenlees echoed his sentiments, saying that “these donations help immensely.”

Nearly $16,000 in donations gathered from the 26th annual Fitchburg and Leominster Rotary Clubs' Breakfast for the Bands Nov. fundraiser was presented to the Fitchburg and Leominster high school bands in January. From left, Leominster High School band member Maya Cohen, LHS Band Director Bob Bergeron, Leominster Rotarian and event co-chair John Tata, LHS band member Vincent Budd, FHS band member Chi-Meng Moua, FHS Band Director Tabitha Greenlees, FHS band member Madison Perron, FHS Band Parents Association Treasurer Rick Kazanjian, and Fitchburg Rotarian and event co-chair Paul Gauvin. (COURTESY ROTARY CLUB OF LEOMINSTER)
Nearly $16,000 in donations gathered from the 26th annual Fitchburg and Leominster Rotary Clubs’ Breakfast for the Bands Nov. fundraiser was presented to the Fitchburg and Leominster high school bands in January. From left, Leominster High School band member Maya Cohen, LHS Band Director Bob Bergeron, Leominster Rotarian and event co-chair John Tata, LHS band member Vincent Budd, FHS band member Chi-Meng Moua, FHS Band Director Tabitha Greenlees, FHS band member Madison Perron, FHS Band Parents Association Treasurer Rick Kazanjian, and Fitchburg Rotarian and event co-chair Paul Gauvin. (COURTESY ROTARY CLUB OF LEOMINSTER)

The two Rotary clubs have been noted for their charitable contributions in the many years since first being chartered, which in Fitchburg was in 1918 and Leominster in 1925. Gauvin said that, since the inception of the Breakfast for the Bands fundraiser, over $120,000 has been donated to the high school bands.

Tata thanked FHS food service Sodexo for providing food supplies and kitchen support for the fundraiser, serving nearly 1,000 guests, and also expressed appreciation for the Leominster Center for Technical Education Innovation providing printing services.

“Thank you to everyone who came out to support the annual Breakfast for the Bands event this year,” said Joe Bowen, rotary club supporter and husband of Rotarian Heidi Bogner, on social media when sharing a photo of the check presentation. “Congratulations to the bands. We’re proud to support you every year!”