Resident starts endowment for Fort Mill High Band

A chance meeting at a yard sale has turned into a long-term funding source to help students in need.

Al Rogat of Fort Mill first became involved with the Fort Mill Marching Band in 2014 when the band held a yard sale fundraiser for a trip to Ireland. At the yard sale, Rogat talked with Fort Mill Band Director John Pruitt and was so excited by what he heard about the band program that he wrote a $500 check to the scholarship fund – and he has done so each year since.

Recently, he decided to start an endowment that would generate an investment income annually, even after his death. His hope is that the endowment will have a greater long-term impact than a one-time annual donation.

The Albert Rogat Fort Mill High School Band Endowment has a return of 8 percent, Rogat said. It has been funded by Rogat with enough money to continue making the $500 annual contribution to the Band Booster Scholarship Fund indefinitely, Rogat said.

“I decided, ‘what the heck?’ I can leave money to (my) kids or grandsons who sort of don’t need it, or I can do some other things with it. An endowment will go on forever,” Rogat said.

A trombone player in his early years, Rogat, 71, said he has always appreciated music, particularly music education.

“I think art and music are very important in schools and they are among the first things to go,” Rogat said.

“There is a correlation I think they’ve shown in studies about band and instrument playing throughout school and better test scores and results as students go through middle and high school and even college.”

He hopes to encourage others to donate to the endowment as well. Donations are tax deductible.

“If we get more people to donate, (the endowment) will generate even more for the scholarship fund,” Rogat said. “I’d love to see it grow.”

Annual marching band fees are $750 per student. In 2015, that included two overnight trips and motor coaches to transport students and equipment. This year, the band is traveling to Normandy, France, for a special World War II memorial performance. The Band Booster Club maintains a scholarship fund for students who cannot afford the fees.

The endowment created by Rogat will enhance that scholarship fund.

“I am grateful for Mr. Rogat’s generosity,” Pruitt said.

“I believe his endowment is a practical way to ensure that we will always have a consistent sum in our scholarship fund each year.”

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Resident starts endowment for Fort Mill High Band."