Columbia Credit Union boosts Evergreen band’s travel plans

Columbia Credit Union has stepped in to help the Evergreen High School Band and Color Guard reach Washington, D.C., for the inaugural parade.

Between now and Feb. 14, Columbia will match all donations from local businesses and community members, up to $5,000.

That’s a potential $10,000 push, much appreciated by the Evergreen High group. The band now stands about $25,000 short of money needed to fly a 150-student contingent back east, organizers say.

“They were the first to call me this morning. I’m positive we’ll meet our goal,” said band booster club president Connie Ewart on Tuesday, one day after news of the shortfall emerged.

More than half the band group was still struggling to pay $862 each for the five-day trip.

Donations may be made directly to the Evergreen High band booster club via secure PayPal application on its Web site: www.ehsboosters.com.

Laurie Kusch, a senior vice president of member services and chief ambassador for Columbia Credit Union, said the firm was glad to assist.

“This is a great opportunity for our area youth to be represented at this historic inauguration and we want all band members to be able to take advantage” of the once-in-a-lifetime chance, Kusch said in a news release.

Meantime, the Evergreen band will not perform an evening concert on Monday, as previously scheduled.

Instead, the Evergreen school district and Vancouver officials are working to coordinate a public send-off event Tuesday. Plans were expected to be finalized today.