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A Different Kind Of 'Rocking' Fundraiser Proves Successful

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Ruthy Simpson, Carleigh Ribinett, and Mia Carastro, 12, all 12, dance and sing "Crank That" by Soulja Boy while participating in a " Rock-A-Thon" on Friday for their school orchestra at Coleman Middle School. At a time when schools are struggling to fund music and the arts, the unusual fundraiser was the orchestra's most successful ever.

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By MARILYN BROWN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 20, 2009

TAMPA - Tonight, the Coleman Middle School orchestra discovered the way out of its fundraising slump.

Take pledges. Drag your rocking chairs to school. Get the parents to bring food. Volunteer a Dad to D.J. Rock On!

The result: The biggest fundraiser for the orchestra in 11 years: $5,937.05 at a time when schools are struggling along with everyone else to raise cash.

"I think it's ingenious. I love it," said cello player Andrew Delrosal, 11, as he moved back and forth in his low, black gaming chair, watching the movie, "Saving Private Ryan" on his computer.

Most of the 50 musicians participating in the school's first Rockathon were females and most had at least one cell phone, iPod, computer or Nintendo DS. A couple read books, a few played cards. All ate the mounds of brownies, pizzas, chips, chicken, cupcakes and sandwiches.

The 11- to 14-year-olds were happy to party for the cause for three hours in their school cafeteria rather than sell lollipops in front of Sam's Club. That's their traditional fundraiser, which made $1,400 earlier this month – half the usual take.

"It's more fun than I thought it would be," said Edna Reyes, mother of viola player Natasha Reyes, 12

The 104-member orchestra never raised more than $3,000 in a year, said orchestra director Ed Thanz. That's buys the music, equipment and the instruments that students rent for $42.80 each a year.

Thanz figures this year the orchestra has raised enough to buy four cellos, a bass and $2,000 worth of music.

That's without a couple of last minute contributions. At 7:40 p.m., Patrick Weston – parent, electrician and part-time DJ – offered another $100 if kids would all rock along with three songs. The group sang "YMCA" from their rockers, then ran to the middle of the room – with a few parents – and ended up shouting, stomping and dancing to "The Cha Cha Slide."

They got the extra $100 – plus another $5 Weston said "some guy gave me earlier to turn off the Macarena."

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069

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