The Tailor Made Band is made up of Tink Bennett, lead vocals/guitar; Chauncey “Chad” Bennett, drummer; Mike McMullin, bassist/lead vocals; Derek Gasque, piano/vocals; Rob Benjamin, sound technician; Don Hurteau, Light technician
Editor's Note: This story was contributed by Chris Bennett of the Tailor Made Band.
The Tailor Made Band in Cortland held their 2nd annual golf tournament on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at Walden Oaks. Although the weather did not cooperate, the band and all the participants were good sports and golfed through the wet weather.
The band saw the need a few years ago to help out local schools' music programs and, after seeing the old and poor equipment they were using, decided to hold a golf tournament to raise funds. Last year, the chosen school was Cortland High School. The band and community came together and raised funds to go toward the Cortland High School Rock Band club. The band members raised over $2,500 last year and also donated a brand new guitar donation from Sweetwater Company for the school program.
This year the chosen school was McGraw Central Schools and Tailor Made worked with Mr. Shirley, the music teacher, for information and needs of the school. Not only was the school receptive to the tournament, Mr. Shirley got others in the school to form two golf teams and help participate in the fundraising. McGraw is also the alma mater for Tink Bennett, who was very glad to be helping out his former school.
There were 19 company sponsors that paid $100 each that went directly to McGraw schools, along with 16 teams. The teams all paid $260 to participate and $60 of that also went directly to McGraw. Many local companies also donated items for prizes to the golfers for 1st place, 2nd place and longest drive.
In total $2,700 plus was raised for McGraw music with a donation of a new Bass Guitar from Sweetwater Company.
Brian Shelley, a music instructor at McGraw, said, "I would like to thank Tink Bennett and Tailor Made for their most thoughtful consideration and support of our Music Department at McGraw Central School. Naming us to be the recipients of the proceeds from their golf tournament was very humbling. In addition to the contribution of the new Fender Bass Guitar, which will be highly beneficial to our school’s Jazz Ensemble, the monetary contributions will come as a great benefit toward the acquisition of needed equipment and instruments -- not only for our school's instrumental music program, but the Music Department as a whole. I also wish to thank all the businesses and individuals who provided contributions which led to the monies received by us. We are very, very appreciative."
Tink Bennett, of Tailor Made, stated, "I am proud that we continue to invent new ways to help out our community, and to help making sure that young people can get interested in music and performing. Music is important and many of the schools have been greatly affected with budget cuts for their music programs. We hope we can continue to lessen the burden and give more students the opportunity to learn and play music.
If you would like to help out the McGraw School music program please send your donation to:
McGraw Central School Music Department
10 West Academy Street
McGraw NY 13101
