The SFU Bands held a fundraiser at the Sweet Frog in Altoona on Feb. 20. The fundraiser was for the String Theory School in Philadelphia, which iis looking to expand its program and is in need of more equipment for its students.

Guest instructor for SFU Bands, JoAnn Wieszczyk, currently works at the inner-city Philadelphia school. Wieszczyk was the inspiration for the fundraiser.

SFU’s Director of Bands, Daniel Atwood, said he was “blown away be these incredible young musicians” at Wieszczyk’s school.

“Once JoAnn and I started talking about the expansion of her program and the need for equipment,” said Atwood, “I knew our students would want to help.”

Junior Allison Nedrow and sophomore Victoria Flynn were especially interested in the project and chaired the fundraiser.

Nedrow said she connected with Wieszczyk’s passion.

“[Wieszczyk] always talked about how much she loved the kids she taught and how much she wanted to inspire them,” said Nedrow.

“I wanted to help her teach these kids that music can help you escape your problems, but also help you succeed, too.”

The Sweet Frog fundraiser was just the band’s latest effort to help the school. Members of the SFU Bands have donated money and used instruments to The String Theory School. They have also contacted several universities in the area, asking if they would do the same.

Partnering with the Bands to help raise more money is the Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority. The two groups held bake sales at weekend basketball games to raise funds. Gamma’s service vice president, Kierstyn Reddecliff, said she was excited to help out with the project.

“We felt this effort would be awesome to be a part of because music education is just so important,” said Reddecliff.

The SFU Bands have raised more than $600 and collected about 15 musical instruments for The String Theory School. Other donations have included music stands and various styles of sheet music.

The Bands’ fundraising efforts will continue throughout the rest of the semester. Anyone interested in donating money, musical instruments, sheet music, music stands, etc., to the cause can contact Nedrow at axn105@francis.edu or Flynn at vnf100@francis.edu.