Camas High School band gets $10,000 donation

Camas High School’s marching band received a $10,000 donation from Oregon-based CBM Systems during a special gathering at the school Friday.

The donation was presented to the school by CBM Systems Executive Vice President Benjamin Reng.

The funding will be used to ensure that all students with an interest in playing in the band can do so. For many students, joining band is beyond their financial ability. There are extra class fees, expenses to attend special events, the cost of instrument rentals or purchases, travel expenses and costs for uniforms.

While funding from the Camas School District and fundraising activities by students and parents help offset those expenses, it’s not always enough. Band Director Richard Mancini said in a press release Friday that the donation will help ensure that members of the band can continue fostering community pride and school spirit at events both in town and in the broader metro area.

The Camas High School band is well known for its community performances. Known as “the Big Red Machine,” the band plays at football, volleyball and basketball games, and participates in several parades across the region.

Band students also perform for the school’s graduation ceremony, the city’s holiday tree-lighting event, the Camas Days parade and the Stuff the Bus food drive each December.