Fundraising & Volunteering

We rarely fundraise beyond Tourists games, band fees, and the 5K. We respect your time, and band fees have not been raised in 12+ years. However, last year (for the first time) all student activities were charged mileage for bus trips. That added up to over $9,000 in bus bills for the band, which wiped out the school band account, and the boosters sent almost $4,000 to AHS to cover the deficit.

Rather than raise band fees or add a per-student transportation fee, we're asking families who are able to help in one of these ways:

• Donate a fuel fee directly to the AHS Band Account, which pays our bus bills.
• Sell holiday wreaths. All proceeds go to the same account.

Donate a Fuel Fee »

Online orders are open until Sunday, November 15. These are beautiful, fragrant wreaths from a vendor we've partnered with before. Please share with local friends and family! Wreaths are delivered to AHS for pickup at school; the delivery date will be announced after orders close.

36" Fraser Fir: $40

24" Fraser Fir: $30

Bows not included.

Order Wreaths »

By working a single shift at an Asheville Tourists baseball game, you can earn $100 per person toward student band fees. A family of three can cover the entire annual band fee in one game!

Ready to get started?

1. Read the orientation deck and sign the agreement form here.
2. Then sign up to work games here.

Each family member who works a full shift earns $100 per game, deposited into the student's AHS Band account. The money can be applied to any band fees or used for the band trip planned for 2027. A student must be at least 15 years old to work, and any student who is 15 must be accompanied by a parent.

2027 Tourists dates coming soon! Check back here for the dates the band will work at the Tourists next season.

Play ball! Please reach out to Lisa Gantt with any questions. Full volunteer guidelines »

Our biggest fundraiser of the year!

The 6th annual Sock It to Me Santa 5K is a chip-timed holiday race through Asheville's South Slope and River Arts District, starting and finishing at Asheville Middle School. Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome, and holiday costumes are encouraged. Kids can join the Snowflake Chaser fun run, one loop of the track, for $5. Proceeds from registrations and sponsorships support the Asheville City Schools band programs.

• Race day: Snowflake Chaser at 8:30 AM, 5K at 9:00 AM. Packet pickup opens at 7:30 AM in the AMS gym (early pickup Friday, Dec 11, 4–6 PM).
• Registration: $50 through Nov 27, then $55 through Dec 11. The race sells out and there is no race-day registration, so sign up early.
• Band students perform: brass, saxophone, and drumline ensembles play holiday music before the start.

Three ways to help

• Run or walk it. Registration is handled by our race partner, Kick It Events, on Race Roster. Register here.
• Volunteer on race morning. Sign up for a volunteer shift.
• Sponsor the race. Businesses get race entries, logo placement, and recognition. Sponsor by Oct 30 to guarantee your logo on race signage, or by Nov 13 for the t-shirt. See sponsorship levels.

Register to Run » Become a Sponsor » Volunteer

Course map, schedule & results on Kick It Events

Our students have been invited to the Percy Grainger Invitational, where a small, hand-selected group of top high school wind ensembles from across the country perform and are coached by leading conductors. They will perform in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

We’re raising $25,000 in community support so that cost is never the reason a student can’t go. Gifts of any size help, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Learn more & give »

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