St. Petersburg City Council member Steve Kornell is super stoked the Lakewood High School Jazz Band is being honored for their superior jazz skills. He’s so proud, he’s willing to raise $3,000 for the group in a very short period.
“Due to their superior ratings in state competition they have been invited to participate in the Crescent City Jazz Festival in New Orleans March 17-21,” Kornell wrote on his Facebook page. “To make this trip they needed to raise $25,000. They have raised $16,000 and are short approximately $9,000.”
But $3,000 in fundraising from Kornell only gets the band a third of the way toward the remaining goal. So, now he has challenged a couple of Lakewood alums.
“Okay – I’m a proud Gibbs Gladiator, but Lakewood High School is in my district and right down the street from my house. I’m going to issue a challenge to my County Commissioner, Ken Welch, a Lakewood Spartan, and to Representative Darryl Rouson on this one,” Kornell wrote. “If we each got people to pledge $3,000 we could have this wrapped up just like that.”
Nothing gets the fire burning like a little healthy taunting.
“Now, I’m not trying to start anything, but I believe I can be the first to meet this goal,” Kornell continued.
Kornell implored those who want to help out to comment on his post with how much they’re willing to kick in to send a bunch of jazz buffs to the Big Easy.
There was only one pledge within the first half hour of Kornell’s post for $100, but he did get a vague promise to contribute from activist Lucinda Johnston, who is also trying to get the band to play at the Earth Day Festival she’s organizing.
Welch and Rouson have yet to respond, but it’s a safe bet both will probably come around.
*Disclaimer: This reporter is also a Spartan.
