Drum Corps International fell just short this past week of advancing to the third round of the Brackets For Good competitive fundraising challenge, ending its run at a total prize of $100,000 in this year’s contest.

After holding a lead for much of the final day of the campaign over its second round fundraising opponent “Rise Against Hunger,” a nonprofit dedicated to ending worldwide hunger by the year 2030, DCI finished just $650 short of advancing in the final minutes of bracket play.

“Advancing to subsequent rounds certainly would have been sweet, but everyone wins in this campaign and DCI will keep the funds raised in support of our educational programs,” said Susan Kuehnhold, DCI’s senior director of events, community and corps relations.

Over the last two weeks of fundraising, DCI advanced further than it did in 2016, allowing for additional support. The $2,374 raised will be spread across a number of DCI programs, from BANDtastic! Honor Bands which provide performance and educational opportunities to middle school students as part of the DCI Summer Tour to the Marching Music Health & Wellness Project which is dedicated to the continued development of a global network of practitioners and athletic trainers sharing information, insights and best practices to keep performers healthy and prepared to make positive choices for a healthy lifestyle.

RELATED: 7 off-the-field DCI programs you can support through Brackets for Good“We thank all of our supporters for their generous contributions during this campaign and look forward to the additional support it will provide to Drum Corps International and its participating organizations into the future,” Kuehnhold said.

To learn more about philanthropic opportunities in support of DCI’s educational programs, contact SueK@dci.org.