It could be considered a Cinderella story — if Cinderella played the tuba.

Aided by donations from within and outside the community, the Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band raised enough money to help send all 167 members to New York for this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Almost $123,000 has been raised the past several months — enough to cover more than half of the $221,000 travel cost for the band members and fill the void for families struggling to raise their share. Families of band members will pay the rest.

Additionally, Pittsburg Power Co. — the city-run retail gas and electric service provider — will consider approving a donation this month. Power company leaders said they would match business donations up to $25,000 — an amount local businesses exceeded.

The "Pride of Pittsburg" will be among 11 high school bands — and the only one west of the Mississippi River — to march down Broadway on Thanksgiving morning. Pittsburg will be the first band from Northern California to perform at the parade in 10 years.

"It definitely shows the closeness of this community; there's such a connection here to everything we do," band director Jennifer Martinez said, noting Pittsburg is a one-high school town and many have ties to the band.

After a generous outpouring from around the East Bay and even out of state, several local events helped produce significant chunks of

"The community was looking for a way to get involved, and people really had a lot of fun with it," Kiwanis member Tim Stone said.

Classes that graduated from Pittsburg High School during the 1970s held a class reunion for all 10 years on the streets of downtown, raising $10,000.

Anna Tellez, one of the event's organizers, said the band started at Pittsburg High in the 1970s with a dozen students. The reunion event "just snowballed" once alumni heard where the proceeds were going, she said.

Given the tough economic times, Martinez said she was "shocked" by the generosity.

Community groups donated proceeds from home parties; native musician Pete Escovedo headlined a concert; even a Pleasanton comedy club held a benefit show.

Individual donations ranging from $1 to thousands helped the cause. The band also benefited from grants, including $10,000 from the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund.

And music students at Pittsburg's Parkside Elementary raised more than $700.

Band members sold raffle tickets at weekly Pittsburg events, washed cars, recycled, played live music and sold food such as tri-tip and gourmet popcorn.

"It's funny that whenever something needs to get done, people in Pittsburg always seem to step up to the plate," band boosters parent Jennie Sears said. The determination "gives a whole new meaning to the term 'No Child Left Behind,'" she said.

Paul Burgarino covers Pittsburg and Bay Point. Reach him at 925-779-7164.