Rye High School receives $22K+ in donations to help launch marching band program

RYE, Colo. (KRDO) -- Rye High school (RHS) has been without a marching band for more than 15 years and is the only high school in District 70 without one. Now, thanks to an anonymous donation, the program is set to come back swinging next fall.

Two decades ago, the marching band was a big deal. They won first place in the Southern Regional Marching Band Competition in 1998.

"Music is a big piece of this community. There are a lot of alumni that still live in the community that was part of the band. But it was many years ago that we had that program. So I think they're excited to see it come back," said Michelle Madril, principal at RHS.

RHS has been asking the community for help to start this new program since August, but they never expected the donations to roll in so quickly.

Madril thought it would take a couple of years to receive the money they needed to start this program, but now they are expecting to launch the new marching band program next Fall due to the generous donations.

District 70 said a couple of days after our story aired, they received a $15,000 check from an anonymous donor. The district then received more than $7,000 in other donations.

Currently, the band is roughly $1,000 of its goal.

If you would like to donate to the marching band program, Donations can be made directly to RHS, 8083 Highway 165, Rye, CO 81069.