NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day
 Parade(R) is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. And for one lucky band
 member the trip down Broadway will be even more memorable. This year, Macy's
 and the Bob & Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation, proudly announce the newly
 created Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award. This new scholarship initiative is
 designed to honor one outstanding band member and school band program
 participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade beginning this year.
     The first Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award will be presented to a student
 from one of the participating high school and college bands in the 2003 Macy's
 Thanksgiving Day Parade. Through a written essay, each school will nominate
 one participating musician, auxiliary team member or drum major from their
 marching band program who best reflects the values and attributes that Bob
 Hope represented to millions of Americans, both at home and overseas. These
 values and attributes include musical ability, leadership initiative, sense of
 humor and a strong commitment to community service.
     Members of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Band Selection Committee
 will evaluate the essays and select the winning recipient.  The selected
 student will receive a $5,000 Scholarship Award toward his/her education. In
 addition, the school band program will also receive $5,000.
     Robin Hall, Executive Producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade says,
 "Macy's is honored to continue our longstanding relationship with Bob Hope and
 his family with the creation of this special scholarship." He adds, "The
 Macy's Band program is all about excellence and this scholarship reinforces
 that idea. The creation of this award also coincides beautifully with a
 special tribute to Bob Hope that Macy's is planning for this year's Parade."
     According to Bob Hope's daughter, Linda Hope, "The family is so pleased to
 present this scholarship in my father's name. He started out as a song and
 dance man and music was always a major part of his life. And, oh, how he loved
 a parade!"
     This year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will celebrate the iconic
 entertainer with a special tribute, as one American icon, salutes another.
 Aboard the Statue of Liberty float, America's symbol of freedom, members of
 the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York and 100 children from Camp Broadway,
 will embody Bob Hope's legendary traits with a special performance of "When
 Hope Was There."
     Funded by the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation/Hope Enterprises
 Inc., Macy's will officially announce the first recipient of the Bob Hope Band
 Scholarship Award on the NBC telecast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on
 November 27, 2003.  The Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award program will continue
 each year through the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
 
 

SOURCE  Macy's; The Bob & Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation