JOPLIN, MISSOURI -
Joplin High School senior Gareth Evans is 1 of 125 band students from across the nation selected to perform in the halftime show at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game in January.
The Evans family lost everything in the May 22 tornado.
The Joplin High School band has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in collective donations so far since the tornado.
"Band has always been just a big part of my families life," says Evans. "A lot of this stuff wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the tornado. It's amazing to see so much good come out of the bad."
Band members like Evans say they are thankful for the donations that have been made.
Band Director Rick Castor says the band has received roughly $400,000 worth of donations.
"It's been amazing, the people of the world have really just pulled out their soul to help Joplin," says Castor.
Dr. Michael Fitterling and his wife, Margie, have teamed up with the Manilow Music Project and are raising money to replace sheet music for the district's music programs.
When asking the project managers to help the Fitterlings never imagined Barry Manilow would also donate a truck load of new instruments.
"When we made the request we really thought if anything they'd just send a check donations and so to have this amount of instruments donated is just unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable," says Margie Fitterling.
Donations have helped kids like Evans get back to doing what they love most and have not let anyone forget that Joplin is still here.
"Get our name out there, let the people know that even though there was a storm and a lot of stuff was destroyed the people of Joplin are still kicking strong," says Evans.
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