Cameron High School Band Receives $30,000 Donation

Community members came together Monday to surprise the Cameron High School marching band and its director, Christian Oliver.

It was a surprise that caught Oliver's tongue, speechless at the more than $30,000 community members donated to the band so that they can march in the 2025 Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C.

That D.C. trip comes with a hefty price tag, around $75,000.

When the donation's reveal came Monday at the high school, those community members presented Oliver and the band with a big check for $29,000. They added to the surprise by presenting another $1,330 check with money raised between when the check was printed and Monday.

To raise the money, a small group of band supporters sent out 74 letters to people in the community, said David Evans, a longtime Cameron High teacher and coach. Nearly half responded and donated substantial funds to help. Many of those donors were former Cameron band members.

"We just would like to see the band do well," Evans said. "We just want to see them get some recognition."

The Cameron band's growth has been amazing since Oliver's arrival, Evans said. When Oliver came to Cameron two years ago, there were only two members of the band. Since then, he has grown the high school band to 40 people with 30 more in the elementary schools.

During the donation event, Oliver and the Cameron band showed donors what they were getting for their kindness. They played several songs for those in attendance, including the CHS fight song.

Evans said Monday's event was another example of the way the Cameron community takes care of its own when it's needed.

"People in the Cameron area do try to help take care of things," he said. "They've always helped out with the school. I've been here 50 years and people have always supported Cameron High School and Cameron Elementary School. They go out of their way to make sure that they get help if they need it."