By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
NEW HOPE A New Hope foundation dedicated to the memory of a talented young musician has made sure a group of disadvantaged teenaged drummers can participate in the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Jonathan D. Krist Foundation donated $2,000 toward transportation costs so 12 boys from Bonnie Brae can get to Washington, D.C., to play in Barack Obama’s inauguration parade.
Bonnie Brae is a residential school in Bernards Township for boys who have been neglected, abused and abandoned.
Their invitation to the inauguration is a true underdog story, a tale of the little guy with few resources and little hope of rising to the top.
Against long odds, the Bonnie Brae Knights Drum Corps found themselves among the groups chosen to perform Jan. 20. Inaugurations usually receive 300 to 400 applications to perform, but this time, planners received a whopping 1,382.
Bonnie Brae CEO William Powers sounded stunned the Knights were invited.
”Talk about a long shot,” he said.
In applying, he said he thought, “Wouldn’t it be great with Obama’s message of hope and change? That’s really what we’re all about here.”
On a Sunday night, Mr. Powers received the phone call notifying him the Knights had been accepted.
”I just about fell off my chair,” he said.
The next day, when he went to the school and hosted an assembly, he stood on a chair to deliver the good news. At first, none of the boys believed him. Mr. Powers has a habit of telling bad jokes. The boys thought he was at it again.
Now the boys 98 in the student body, ages 8 to 18 believe. So do a lot of other people.
Donations still are coming in.
Actor James Gandolfini, of “The Sopranos” fame, sent “a very generous check,” said Bonnie Brae Director of Development Nancy Hoffmann said.
The Magic Shop in Oldwick collected more than $700. Max Weinberg, longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and leader of Conan O’Brien’s “Late Night” band, bought new drums for the 12-member Knights.
Corporations have contributed, too, including the Chubb Corps. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
It isn’t only big names, corporations and foundations that are helping out. Private individuals are rooting for the little guy, too. Despite the harsh pinch of the economy, people are sending in what they can, $5 or $10 or whatever they are able.
”Times are tough these days,” Mr. Powers said. “They sent what they could. There is something about underdogs, a small group of scraggly kids. It’s really caught people’s attention.”
Early on, when the Krist Foundation heard about the story, only $100 had been collected to get the boys to Washington, according to Peggy Krist.
”They can’t not go just because they don’t have the money or a way to get there,” she said. “They have this chance to be part of history.”
The Krist Foundation was established to honor Mrs. Krist’s son, Jonathan, a freshman at Oberlin College, who died in a car accident in May 2006 at the age of 19.
He was “a talented musician, conscientious about his politics and helping the underserved,” according to the foundation’s Web site.
He played several instruments, including the guitar, bass and trumpet.
”He was always aware of giving a leg up to the underprivileged,” Mrs. Krist said.
The Bonnie Brae Knights Drum Corps is “about music and underserved kids,” making it a perfect fit for the foundation, Mrs. Krist said.
She recently met the young men of Bonnie Brae and described them as “very outgoing, kind and well-mannered.”
Donations also have come from families in memory of their sons who have died from gunfire or accidents, according to Mr. Powers.
He said, “I told our guys, ‘You’re carrying a lot of banners here.’”
Donations may be made online through Paypal or by mail or phone.
Checks may be made out to Bonnie Brae with the notation of “drum corps” in the check memo. They should be mailed to Bonnie Brae, 3415 Valley Rd., P.O. Box 825, Liberty Corner, 07983-0825.
Donations may be made by credit card by phoning 908-647-4700.
Visit Bonnie Brae at http://bonnie-brae.org/.
Visit the Jonathan D. Krist Foundation at http://www.jonathankrist.org/.
