Our journey hasn't been a long one, but we've had our share of speed bumps.

Since our founding in the fall of 2015, we were fortunate enough to have the support and partnership with a local high school. We were able to offer affordable fees for the members, and give them a safe space to learn and succeed. Two months ago, in November of 2019, we suddenly and unexpectedly lost that partnership, which posed several immediate challenges.

First, we lost what we had considered our home. We no longer have the rehearsal or storage space we need, which forces us to not only pay for these facilities elsewhere, but also rent a large truck every weekend to transport our gear. These costs add approximately $20,000 to our budget which we were not previously prepared for.

Secondly, as a young organization, we have still been working on purchasing our own equipment. Not only do we lack our own transportation, but we also had been borrowing a sound system, hardware, and other front instruments and ensemble equipment that is necessary to remain competitive in WGI; this is in addition to the $25,000 of front ensemble equipment we had financed, and are still paying for. We had to make these purchases immediately, which added another $10,000 (special thanks to Presonus and Pageantry Innovations for their assistance)

Lastly, no more than a month after we lost our housing space, we had an accident with the equipment truck, costing us the $1000 deductible (grateful for insurance), and destroying/damaging some of our front ensemble equipment, resulting in thousands of dollars in repairs or to replace instruments.

In many cases, events like this are season-ending. But we sat down with the board, and as a staff, and we decided to push through and not give up. We want to continue to give these members the experience they deserve, and a product they can be proud of.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Every little bit matters to us, and will help us continue to afford the things we need: truck rental, storage fees, rehearsal space costs, housing, uniforms, props, equipment repair/replacement, etc. Whether it's $5 or $500, your donation helps us survive! Be a part of our success story!

Anyone wishing to make a special donation to sponsor an instrument, sponsor a member, or make a donation over $1000 may use this page, or contact us at info@inov8ensembles.org. We would be happy to give back by adding you or your company to our website and/or show shirts.