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From left: Scottville Clown Band President Herb Early, MCC Band Director Brian Parent, LASD Band Director Keith Kuczynski, and Clown Band Treasurer Rob Alway.
SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Clown Band has donated a total of $5,000 to the Mason County Central and Ludington Area school districts’ band programs, continuing the organization’s long-standing mission of supporting youth music education.
Each district recently received $2,500 from the Clown Band.
The donation to Mason County Central came from money raised during the Spartan Reunion concert held Aug. 18 at MCC High School. The event brought together the MCC High School Jazz Band, Scottville Clown Band and hundreds of community members.
The fundraiser included the sale of bricks salvaged from the former Scottville school building along with an auction of cabinets from the building that had been refurbished by Clown Band street leader and MCC alumnus George C. Wilson. Several thousand dollars were raised during the event for the MCC band program.
The $2,500 donation to Ludington Area School District came from donations collected during the Clown Band’s annual Patriotic Concert June 30 at Waterfront Park in Ludington. The Ludington High School Jazz Band opened the concert, and the Clown Band had announced prior to the event that all donations collected that evening would be given to the school district’s music program.
The two $2,500 donations are in addition to the Scottville Clown Band’s regular Founders’ Grant program, which provides financial assistance to public school music education programs in Mason, Lake, Oceana and Manistee counties.
“The Scottville Clown Band has a long-standing tradition of supporting youth band students throughout Michigan,” said Rob Alway of Scottville, treasurer of the Clown Band. “But our organization’s roots are directly connected to the Mason County Central, Scottville and Ludington school music programs. We believe supporting these programs is not only important to music education in our communities, but also vital to the future of the Clown Band. We want to encourage young musicians to continue playing beyond high school and hopefully someday become part of our organization.”
Supporting youth music and performing arts education has become a major component of the Clown Band’s mission.
In addition to its school grants, the organization this year awarded nearly $20,000 to middle school and high school musicians attending summer music education programs through the Raymond Schulte Memorial Scholarship Program. Nearly half of those scholarships went to students attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
The scholarship program is named in memory of Raymond J. Schulte, one of the founders of the modern Scottville Clown Band. The band has awarded summer music scholarships since 1966 and, over the decades, has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to young musicians.
“The members of the Clown Band have a lot of fun playing for audiences across Michigan,” said Clown Band President Herb Early of Idlewild. “We love putting smiles on the faces of the people we entertain. But we also take great pride in our giving and in knowing that we are helping young musicians develop skills and a love of music that can last a lifetime.”
Funding for the Clown Band’s student services scholarships and grants comes from donations to the organization, performance fees and distributions from the George F. Wilson Memorial Endowment Fund held at the Community Foundation for Mason County.
The endowment was established in 2015 and named in memory of George F. “Big George” Wilson, who served as the Clown Band’s street leader for more than 65 years and also served for several years as secretary. Income from the endowment helps support performing arts education programs in the region.
The Scottville Clown Band traces its beginnings to 1903. Following a hiatus during the World War II years, the organization was re-established in 1947 and adopted the Scottville Clown Band name. Today, its musicians come from throughout Michigan and several other states. The organization was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1974.
While best known for its colorful costumes, musical talent and antics at parades and concerts throughout Michigan, charitable giving and encouraging young people to continue playing music have become central parts of the organization.
Donations to the Scottville Clown Band’s student services program may be mailed to Scottville Clown Band, P.O. Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454, or made through Venmo at @scottvilleclownband.
Donations to the George F. Wilson Memorial Endowment Fund may be made through the Community Foundation for Mason County at mason-foundation.org. Donors should designate their contribution to the Scottville Clown Band George F. Wilson Endowment Fund.
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