The band members for the upcoming 39th Kansas Shrine Bowl reported on Tuesday for five days of preparation, leading up to Saturday night's game at Welch Stadium on the Emporia State University campus.Over 4,700 young people have performed in the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band since its inception in 1984.
This will be the 29th year for the band, which was organized to add color and excitement to the game at a time of year when college and high school bands have not yet organized for the school year.  The marching band is a project of the Kansas Masonic foundation. Sponsorship for each student is paid by local lodges and other affiliated bodies in their communities.
All Shrine Bowl events are produced and presented to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children (SHC). SHC is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.