America's Got Talent's 82nd Airborne Division Chorus Says They Plan to Reject Cash Prize If They Win
The group's spokesperson, Staff Sgt. Marcus Gilbert, said they're "really trying to reach every person who has ever been in a military uniform" through their performance
The 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus won't be going on any spending sprees if they're crowned the winners of this season's America's Got Talent.
After season 18's final qualifying round Tuesday, Staff Sgt. Marcus Gilbert, a spokesperson for the army group, explained why he and his fellow performers would not accept the $1 million cash prize for themselves if they win the competition.
"That million-dollar prize will go straight to a charity of whatever choice America's Got Talent wants to send it to," Gilbert told Parade. "We are simply here to represent our country, our division and that is it.”
The sergeant added that they want to "make sure all of their supporters are known" and emphasized that the group was "serious" about the competition and not "just messing around."
“We’re really trying to reach every person who has ever been in a military uniform at all. We want to make sure that all of our supporters are known," he continued. "We have so much 82nd pride. We just want to make sure that everybody who has allowed us to be here knows that we're not here just messing around. We're here, we're serious and we're going to compete.”
Related: 'America’s Got Talent' Announces New 'Fantasy League' Spinoff — and Mel B Is Returning to Judge!
At the live show Tuesday, the chorus performed "I Am Here" by Pink. They dedicated the act to their entire Airborne Division.
Their audition earlier this season — which saw them perform a crowd-pleasing classic with The Temptations' hit song "My Girl" — was dedicated to the memory of Spc. Elijah Crawford.
Speaking backstage to PEOPLE after Tuesday's live show, Gilbert said that being on America's Got Talent meant "the world" to him.
"It means the world for me personally," he shared. "I've been a singer for a long time and that was something that my dad started with me. My dad was also a paratrooper, so tonight was a huge night for me. I got to put those two loves together ... it's just a huge moment."
Related: 'America's Got Talent' Winners: Where Are They Now?
The 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus will be one of the 11 acts to move on to America's Got Talent's two-night finale beginning Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Other competing acts include Murmuration, Ahren Belisle, Putri Ariani, Lavender Darcangelo, the Ramadhani Brothers, Anna Deguzman, Chibi Unity, Adrian Stoica and Hurricane, the Mzansi Youth Choir and Avantgardey.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The two-night season 18 finale of America's Got Talent kicks off Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.