"The band is 100 years old this year and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to perform in the Macy's parade," band director Chris Moore told Buzz on Tuesday.

Braving sleet, snow and rain Tuesday morning, the band rehearsed the three tunes it'll perform along the Manhattan parade route Thursday morning. On the broadcast about 10:07 a.m. Thursday, the Yellow Jackets will debut "Fantasia on Georgia Tech," a medley of the school's classic fight songs "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech" and "Up With the White and Gold."

"We're doing a lot of action, flashy maneuvers and a lot of high energy," promised Moore.

Hopefully, the students get extra credit for multi-tasking. After rehearsal Tuesday, they were back at the hotel, many taking a differential equations exam being administered by Moore on behalf of profs back in Atlanta.

This morning, the band will perform live on the Fox News early show "Fox and Friends" at 7.

And after a quick post-parade turkey dinner Thursday, the band loads up for the trip home, where members will play at a volleyball game and a men's Basketball game.

Oh, and then it's back on the bus for a trip to Athens on Saturday, where the 8-3 Tech football team takes on the 9-2 University of Georgia Bulldogs in the state's most storied sports matchup.

Moore isn't worried about a little sleep deprivation, either.

Said the band director: "The band never has a problem getting up for that game!"

Doing his part from many miles away

Former Atlanta Hawks player Shareef Abdur-Rahim will be spending Thanksgiving on the left coast. The recent NBA retiree has just joined the coaching staff of the Sacramento Kings. But the lessons he learned growing up in Atlanta volunteering with his father and brother at the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless turkey day dinner have stuck with him. That's why more than 350 Atlantans in need will have a Thanksgiving Day dinner delivered to them this week, courtesy of Abdur-Rahim and the loyal sponsors of his seventh annual Future Foundation benefit.

"It's even more important this year to do this since the need is greater," Abdur-Rahim told us by phone. "I may not be in Atlanta this Thanksgiving, but it's still my home and I have many, many people there I care about. I'm fortunate that, because of my years in the NBA , I can continue do this for people."

Abdur-Rahim wanted to provide 500 dinners this year, but the annual tradition's growth has been slowed a bit by the economy. "We always want to be able to do more than the previous year," he explained. "We're growing a little bit this year but hopefully we'll be able to do even more next year. This is deeply personal for me. The people in Atlanta have supported me throughout my entire life. This is a small way to give back."

So how is Abdur-Rahim adjusting to life as a Kings coach?

"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "It's a transition and it's a little new to me. But it's a great opportunity to teach a little of what I've learned along the way to these younger guys coming up. It's a nice responsibility to have."

For info on the dinner and how to contribute: www.future-foundation.com.

Hotel appreciates its patrons

Atlanta's social set represents a nice chunk of revenue for the hotel business. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead's Thanks-for-Giving brunch Sunday at the hotel was a way of thanking people who book big bashes there. General manager Jon McGavin, catering director Kurt Schwan and public relations director Sandra Ryder greeted members of Atlanta's philanthropic community. Guests included Steve and Candy Berman, Danielle Berry, Jane Dean, Lisa Fuller, Jaime Griffon, Marilyn Krone, Beverly and John Mitchell, Howard and Victoria Palefsky, Lois Puckett and Sharon Umphenour.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Impressionist Rich Little (right) is 70. Singer Tina Turner is 69. Bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 63. Country singer Joe Nichols is 32. Singer Natasha Bedingfield (left) is 27. Singer Aubrey Collins (Trick Pony) is 21.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Kim 'sings' for the first time on 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.' We've heard dying ferrets make more pleasing sounds."

From Entertainment Weekly's "The Bullseye" pop culture chart. (The Bullseye, incidentally, was on Page 11; the arrow concerning "Housewives" was on Page 14.)

Contributing: Jennifer Brett and news services