November 23, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information Contact:

Philip Marshall

(503) 701-7528

drphil@oregoncrusaders.org

Oregon Crusaders Awarded $100,000 in the Chase Community Giving Contest on Facebook

Almost 8000 Votes from the Northwest and Drum Corps Communities Secures Historic Win

The Oregon Crusaders, Oregon’s Major League Team in Marching Music, is celebrating its finish in the “Chase Community Giving” contest held on Facebook.  With 7814 votes, the Oregon Crusaders finished in the top five of all nonprofits in the nation that were vying for over $3 million in grants from Chase Bank.  The top 100 nonprofits will receive $25,000 each, while the top five will receive $100,000.

In an effort to further support the Pacific Northwest with world-class arts instruction in brass, percussion and visual ensemble artistry, and a competitive arts experience for area youth, the Oregon Crusaders sponsors three programs for students ages 15 to 21: The Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, OC Indoor winter percussion ensemble, and the Jefferson High School drumline.  Leading the charge were Mike Quillen, OC’s Corps Director, Travis Moddison, OC’s Brass Caption Supervisor, and Mike Stevens, OC’s Percussion Caption Supervisor and Director of OC Indoor.  More than 100 student members participated in the campaign to get votes for the organization.

“This surprising result of OCs massive effort to get into the top tier of the voting is thrilling for the whole OC family,” said Dr. Phil Marshall, President of the Oregon Crusaders board of Directors.  “The all-night get-out-the-vote blitz that the members and staff held over the last few days of the campaign were a once-in-a-lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget.  We honestly didn’t know what to expect when the campaign started, but as the votes started to build we got more and more excited, and now it’s clear that the amount of support by the Pacific Northwest community for youth education in marching music is as strong as ever.  We can’t thank our supporters enough.”

The Oregon Crusaders drum corps and the OC Indoor winter percussion ensemble tour the nation each year, providing its members with valuable performance, musical training and life experience.  The Oregon Crusaders drum corps is the nation’s silver medalist in Open Class drum corps, while OC Indoor is a reigning World Class drumline finalist in Winter Guard International.  These programs provide over 160 individuals the educational, cultural, interpersonal, physical and emotional growth necessary for our them to become leaders in our community.

For more information, visit the Oregon Crusaders at www.oregoncrusaders.org

As “Oregon’s Major League Team” in marching music, the Oregon Crusaders is a 501c3 non-profit youth performing arts organization that provides education through performance in the areas of percussion, brass, dance and visual ensemble performance.