Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, the official zupporter of the Rose Parade bands, salutes the Soddy Daisy High School Marching Band for achieving the highest honor a marching band can receive - a spot in the Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade.
Nineteen bands will march on Colorado Boulevard for the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. The bands come for 10 states, and one band is coming all the way from Guatemala.
Prior to the Rose Parade each band will have a chance to perform during BandFest on Dec. 29 and 30. Bandfest is a Tournament of Roses tradition. Held at Pasadena City College in Robinson Stadium. Each band gets 12 minutes on the field to perform, showcasing their talent and prove why they were chosen to participate in this year's parade.
“We are honored to help these young musicians achieve a goal and create lifelong memories,” said Chuck Browning, vice president of community banding for Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. “As the official sponsor of the parade bands, we their partner, helping these bands raise money throughout the year to offset travel costs to get to Pasadena.”
“This year’s Rose Parade theme is ‘2010: A Cut Above the Rest’ and by stepping up to support these high school bands, Farmers is a cut above the rest,” said Wendy Matthes, director of marketing at the Tournament of Roses. “As much as this is an honor for these bands to march down Colorado Boulevard, it gets very expensive to fly 100-200 band members, and their instruments, out to Pasadena.”
Farmers gave each band $500 to help pay for travel expenses and Farmers agents and employees held fundraisers nationwide including a dodge ball tournament, a golf tournament, car washes, BBQs, and much more.
This is the 51st year Farmers has been involved with the Rose Parade. The Farmers float, titled “Salute to the Bands” will help kickoff the 121st Rose Parade on Jan. 1. The float will pay tribute to the parade's marching bands and will feature a 60-foot tall bugler dressed in marching band attire. The colorful float will be surrounded by the "Farmers Insurance Band" — members of the Riverside Community College Marching Band who will also perform as part of the worldwide-televised opening ceremony.