The Platinum Sound Marching Band has a long history at Shaw University, founded in 1865, becoming the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States. The current director and former band member, Andrae King, said the band is overwhelmed by the grant and grateful for the love and support from McDonald's.

"This grant is beyond anything we could have imagined," King said. "It means everything to these students who grind day in and day out to bring energy and excitement to others to get so much love and support back from McDonald's and the community."

In a recent national McDonald's advertisement, Platinum Sound was recognized for its history of entertaining crowds. The spot highlighted the importance of a local McDonald's restaurant as a meeting place for Shaw students across generations through Dave Walters, Jr. and his mother, a musician and ShawU alumna.  

McDonald's was deeply moved by Platinum Sound's commitment to excellence and the University's relentless efforts to support these students academically, artistically, and financially.

Deborah Holder, the East Coast Second Vice President of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association, revealed that while attending an HBCU, she was amazed by the amount of hard work, resources, and dedication it took for a marching band to perform.

"While I attended an HBCU, it was eye-opening to see the amount of hard work, dedication, and resources it takes for a marching band to perform and operate on such a high level," Holder said. "As part of the Raleigh and HBCU community, we are committed to ensuring future leaders such as these talented musicians have the tools they need to succeed."

The $100K grant to the band will benefit its enhancement and expansion objectives to help the band continue performing in style, providing scholarships to members, talent recruitment, and providing equipment and instruments, such as their sousaphones, which haven't been replaced in more than a decade.