Witherite Law Group Awards Nearly $50,000 to Help Fund Atlanta Area High School Band Programs

by Tessa Owens

Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck partnered with Hot 107.9 and Majic 107.5/97.5 to award a total of $30,000 to the top three winners of the 2nd annual Great Atlanta Band Challenge. With so many great entries, hundreds of thousands of votes, and the increased need for funding of fine arts programs in school, Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck, decided to award the additional seven finalists with $2500 each for their band programs. Those schools include Morrow High School, band director: Teddy Taylor; Columbia High School; band director: Ralph Freeman; Westlake High School, band director: Kerry Taylor; Miller Grove High School, band director: Jared B. Brown; Berkmar High School, band director: Arthur Wright, III; Stephenson High School, band director: Quentin R. Goins; and Shiloh High School, band director: Ivan T. Merriweather.  The Great Atlanta Band Challenge is a contest that gives Atlanta-area high school bands the opportunity to showcase their talents and a chance to win $10,000 for their band programs.

Fayette County, Banneker, and Newton High Schools were the top three winners respectively, and will each receive $10,000. All ten finalists received funding in what proved to be a very competitive event among some of Atlanta’s best high school bands.

"The band community is really small, so this was a friendly but very competitive competition this year," said Dr. Myra Rhoden, band director of Fayette County High School. "We thank Ms. Witherite for giving Atlanta and Metro Atlanta band kids this opportunity. The arts make up 50% of our students' activities and this money will go to great use."

The Second Annual Great Atlanta Band Challenge featured twenty of the best high school bands from around the Atlanta area. The event was hosted by Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck and sponsored by Hot 107.9, Majic 107.5/97.5. After two days of competition, Fayette County High School was crowned champion and awarded a $10,000 grand prize by Witherite Law Group founder Amy Witherite. Second place went to Banneker High School, which also won $10,000 for their band program courtesy of 1-800-TruckWreck  In addition to the two $10,000 prizes, Newton High School finished in the top three and received $10,000 also.  All ten finalists were awarded funding in what proved to be a very competitive event among some of Atlanta’s best high school bands.

"I'd like to formally congratulate the winners of this year's 2022 Great Atlanta Band Challenge and recognize every school that entered, as all of them have phenomenal programs," said Amy Witherite.  "It is so encouraging to see the passion these students have for music and the arts.  My hope is that with this award, they will be able to elevate their band programs, but more importantly, assist in their overall development, confidence, and social skills."

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