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°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ receives $50,000 donation from Alabama Power to provide band instruments

December 17, 2021

Contact: Kawana McGough, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
  

TU alum and trustee Jonathan Porter presents donation to TU President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris
TU alum and trustee Jonathan Porter presents donation check from
Alabama Power Company to TU President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris.

Today, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ alumnus and trustee Jonathan Porter '95 presented the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ Marching Crimson Pipers Band with a $50,000 donation through Alabama Power to support Phase II of the MCP Band fundraising initiative, which will provide instruments needed for the band's performances.  

Porter graduated cum laude from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He is a member of the Board of Trustees and currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Customer Operations for Alabama Power Company in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alabama Power has been a strong partner of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ for several decades.  Just this year alone, Alabama Power has contributed $175,000 to the University.

"Alabama Power is pleased to support the work that Dr. Morris has begun at Tuskegee," said Trustee Porter.  "The Marching Crimson Pipers are an important part of the 'Tuskegee experience,' and I am happy that through the support of Alabama Power, we can contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance and maintain the Marching Crimson Piper band's legacy as the oldest HBCU band."

In the Spring of 2020, alumnus and trustee Erik Harris '08 initiated Phase I of the MCP Fundraising Campaign, a campaign to fund new band uniforms. The giving opportunity raised nearly $90k in a few short months. In November, the band members debuted the new uniforms during the 97th Turkey Day Classic game against Alabama State University.  

"Music from the band has always made an unforgettable atmosphere, setting the tone for Tuskegee games," said President Charlotte P. Morris. "Our students deserve to have the best resources and tools to excel academically and in their co-curricular activities."

Currently, many of the band members must provide their instruments. With the average price of musical instruments ranging from $1,500 for a piccolo and up to $7,500 for a tuba, this donation comes at an excellent time to kick start one of the University's current year-end giving opportunities. In addition, scholarship support has been increased for band members beginning in Spring 2022.

To support the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Êͼ¹ÒÅÆ Marching Crimson Pipers Band fundraising initiative, visit   , where you can make your gift online.

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