We just finished a huge playground project! It was a really amazing process. Last year at this time, the PTA board deceided that we need to push for a playground committee. We found 2 willing moms and away we went! The moms started the paperwork and process for a non for profit organization.
The Committee deceided that we would go with a one year goal of raising and building a $100,000 playground! Some people that we were crazy, I'm sure some still do- but, we did complete the task with lots of hard work and support from our principal, teachers, parents and community!
We had several different groups within the Playground Committee. We had a group that sent out letters requesting funds from community members and businesses. We had a group that organized a Theme Basket Event (I was in charge of that).
We had a grant writing group- we did receive a $5,000 grant from our county- we are still in the running for a state grant- that would be used to do some additional items.
We had a group that lead the collection of change "Time for a Change", from our students.
The teachers gave up Christmas Gifts and ask for donations to the playground instead!
We had a Chicken BBQ
We had an Easter Candy Sale.
We sold bricks for the Playground.
We had a group that ran "Dollar Days" each month- All children were asked to participate and bring in a dollar to do-
Crazy Hat Day
PJ Day
Backwards Day
Crazy Hair Day
Slipper Day.....
We had a really committed group of people! Last August when the PTA Board was sitting around my dining room table, it was just a dream, I guess dreams can come true!
It took us a few years to raise funds for our playground. As was stated by an earlier poster communication plays a big role. Post the drawings and the costs then keep updating parents on the status and give them ideas of how to raise the funds. Do any parents have Target Visa cards? Target has a program linked to the card for school funding. Also encourage your parents to check with the businesses where they work and take advantage of any matching gift programs or apply for community involvement programs-lots of companies have them. Have the kids bring in their change and do a graph by class or penny wars(search this forum and you can find details on this).
Do you have a specific committee just for the playground? Having people whose sole focus is that project can help boost efforts. Maybe you should consider a scaled back version or doing the project in phases.
Don't give up hope, just think creatively. Good luck!
Hi it might be worth trying new companies in the playground business. Look in PTOToday Yellow pages and contact the companies there, they might have some suggestions. Or might be looking for a new school project to use as a showcase.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to get companies to donate that amount of money. Some companies will do matching gifts if your parents donate. We just completed our playground. My only advice is that you will have to fundraise and throughout the process communicate, communicate, communicate to your parents. In our monthly newsletter, we let them know how we were doing on different fundraisers. For example, you might say that your boxtop collection was enough to pay for a certain piece of equipment. It gets people excited. We saw a huge inrease in participation. For example, our boxtop turn in increased 54% from the last turn in. Our gift wrap sales increased 100%. We put large drawings of our proposed playground in the lobby (we worked with Miracle and they provided the drawings). FYI, our fundraisers are a magazaine drive, Holiday Housewalk, Fashion Show and a Spa Day. These, along with shop and shares, etc. got us to our goal.
This is the second year our elementary school has been open. I am trying to find out if anyone could tell me a way to get a playgound. We have done fundraising. But no playground yet. I am the vp of the pto and the parents ask me every day. I wish there was a business that would donate it. Does anyone know one.
