Drum corps fans around the world will once again have a chance to get in the game, by supporting their favorite groups on the road to the DCI World Championships through the wildly popular Drum Corps Challenge fundraising contest.
Raising more than $400,000 in 2015, the 2016 edition of the Drum Corps Challenge will pit different DCI World and Open Class corps against each other in class-level play, with each corps trying to raise more money from their alumni, fans and friends than every the other groups in their class.
Every dollar collected by the participating corps during the contest period goes toward their respective Drum Corps Challenge totals. For the many participating ensembles already running various fuel campaigns, alumni donation programs, and fund-a-meal campaigns on their own, dollars raised through those campaigns are accrued into each group’s Drum Corps Challenge total while this special fundraising drive is in effect.
To donate, simply go to the unified webpage for the campaign - drumcorpschallenge.com - and click on the helmet for the Blue Devils.
Timeline
The contest begins Thursday morning, July 21 at 9am ET, and continues through midnight ET on Friday, July 29, with the winners of the contest (one Open Class corps and one World Class corps) announced during the DCI Live! webcast of the DCI Southeastern Championship presented by Lone Star Percussion in Atlanta on Saturday, July 30.
New for 2016
After the Drum Corps Challenge comes to an end on July 30, fans will have another opportunity to support their favorite groups.
A $49.95 pay-per-view webcast will give drum corps fans the ability to watch the NightBEAT Tour of Champions event in its entirety live from Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Sunday, July 31.
As part of the registration process, donors can select the corps that they’d like to support. Approximately $30 of the cost of the pay-per-view will directly benefit the corps of the purchaser’s choosing.
But that’s not all!
To add to the fun, Sunday’s webcast will kick-off with a special stand-up comedy event featuring seasoned drum corps tour volunteer and professional comic JJay Boyd, along with fellow comedians Micah Hanner and Michael Mack. This exclusive comedy event will lead into the live webcast of the NightBEAT competition featuring the Santa Clara Vanguard, Madison Scouts, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Bluecoats, Cadets, Blue Devils, and Carolina Crown.
Please note: this special pay-per-view event is not included in DCI Live! subscription packages and is an exclusive fundraising event, directly benefitting your favorite DCI corps.
Reporting
The corps will report their numbers directly to Drum Corps International on the mornings of Monday, July 25, Wednesday, July 27, and Friday, July 29, so that fans and the participating corps know where everyone stands throughout the duration of the contest.
Donate today via DrumCorpsChallenge.com.