Needs
This year, during the 60th year anniversary of the Sacramento Mandarins, the Big Day of Giving will focus on the needs of our oldest youth program -- MANDARINS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS!
In the summer of 2024, Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps will again tour the United States, providing 164 young adults (ages 16 - 21) with a once in a lifetime experience, playing an original musical score in a highly choreographed marching field show. This year’s total budget is $1,195,500. Although members of the program pay a “tour fee” to help defray these costs, in reality, these fees only cover 70% of the actual costs. The remaining required funds are raised by fundraising events and donations.
This year, Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps need to raise additional funds as follows:
Scholarships: $30,000
Each year, Mandarins has talented young musicians and guard members whose socio-economic circumstances make it impossible for these promising young people to raise a portion of their tour fees. Mandarins maintains a scholarship fund to assist those who need help by offering scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500.
Fuel: $20,000
The surge in diesel and gasoline prices over the past two years has severely affected the Drum Corps overall budget. Mandarins travels with five diesel buses, three semi-tractors with 53-foot trailers, a souvenir trailer, a flatbed trailer and electric cart, and three pickup trucks which travel nearly 11,000 miles each during summer tour. This year’s fuel budget is $75,000 which is more than double the fuel budget in 2019 although is it nearly the same number of miles. Mandarins would like to raise $20,000 in fuel funds to offset in increase in fuel prices.
Mobile Kitchen and Meals: $50,000
Affectionately known as the "Mushu Cafe". Our kitchen volunteers prepare more than 60,000 individual meals each summer. The members rehearse and perform daily. The rehearsals and performances are demanding, requiring proper nutrition and healthy, balanced meals. Members and staff eat three meals and a snack each day. As an example, breakfast consists of 40 dozen eggs, 600 strips of bacon or sausages, 25 packages of hash brown potatoes, 200 pieces of fruit, 10 loaves of bread, 10 bags of cereal, and 15 gallons of milk. This year’s food budget is $119,000 which is an increase of $50,000 from 2019. Mandarins would like to raise $50,000 in food funds to offset in increase in food prices.
Equipment: $20,000
Mandarins will supply all uniforms, musical instruments, props, costumes, flags, and provides all transportation, food and housing during the 11,000-mile summer tour. Estimated Costs: $20,000.
Health and wellness: $35,000
Since its inception in 2017, Mandarins has enlisted health care professionals from varied disciplines to provide medical guidance and hands-on assistance to corps members during the DCI Summer Tour. With an initial focus on injury prevention and treatment, participation in the project has grown from a handful of volunteer contributors to a network of practitioners throughout the United States. Mandarins strives to prevent injuries among participants in the marching arts. To do so, Mandarins needs funding for equipment and staff throughout the year. Health and Wellness staff are licensed in their respective fields (Nurse, Doctor, Psychologist, Athletic Trainer). This year Mandarins must raise $35,000 to cover the cost of a full time Athletic Trainer.