Did you get any ideas? We are looking to do a read a thon where the students read the ENTIRE DAY at school. thinking of per page pledges. Any ideas of what worked, didnt work, etc are welcome!
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I almost couldn't find the prize list...
Unless otherwise noted, all prizes were donated.
Top three students from both jogs (multi-track year round) lunch w/ the principal in a limo.
And this year top three top on down chose from three prizes, a bike, game boy, boombox. Although in years past it was a top prize from top 1 at each jog got the limo lunch only.
The top earner from each grade, from each jog, got a $50 savings bond and a computer game. 6th graders do not earn any prizes but instead keep all the money they earn for their end of the year activities/trips. (Our total earned last year didn't include the 6th grade money)
Top average earned per student classroom got bounce house party and ice cream.
2nd prize (averaged) Port of subs lunch party.
We also asked students to send out mailers to out of town sponsors (grparents etc) and 10 or more mailers returned got a Playful Potter party for two.
Pledge sheets have 25 lines and completed pledge forms with a min of $50 per form, got 2-1 sitting fee playful potter & a candy bar.
All kids who participate got popsicles last year and water bottles this year. (In years past, we bought ribbons)
Levels-
$5-25- 2 Yu Gi Oh cards and a free slurpee (I had it wrong before about the level)
$26-$50-Above + money tote(purchased)
$51-$100-above + school pencil, special pen
$101-$200-above + 2-1 passes to skating rink, goody bag($20-$30 value, contains donated items like UNR games, pizzas, passes to Fun Quest anything we could get donated or purchased by a benefactor)
$201+- above + Lava lamp (purchased, I think,)Yu Gi Oh 9 pack(includes rare card, donated by local collectibles store)
Money Jump- A strip is laid out on floor with levels like $1 at front, candy bar next, $2 candy bar etc (important- strip is marked to represent, candy and money aren't on the strip) and during an assembly like presentation, kids jump, like long jump and they get whatever they land on plus everything behind it.

If the set goal is reached, ours has been $40,000 past two years, a pajama party for entire school, including teachers.

It works so well, it is our only PTA fundraiser for the year and we bill it as such.
"Only fundraiser, no other requests for money etc"

Hi Michelle,
Could you give me a break down of how your prizes worked? We do a jog-a-thon, too, and last year we only brought in about half of what we have done in the past, and so are looking to change things this year. Any help you could give me would be great.
Thanks!

Our school does a jog-a-thon. Last year with 725 students, we raised $42,000. The key is make the prizes exciting for the children. Other schools here in the district do well with Spell-a-thons, walk-a-thons and read-a-thons.
Again, if the prizes are exciting and the children are properly motivated by them, i.e. our prizes include a money jump, lunch in a limo with the Principal and this year we had a bike, gameboy and boombox donated among other level prizes ($25-$50- Yu-gi-oh cards and a slurpee etc)
It wouldn't matter if they were having a sleep-a-thon, if they want the prizes, they'll raise the money. I personally like the jog-a-thon as it also incorporates P.E. and they (heaven forbid) get some great exercise!

We have not done a read a thon, but have you considered a test a thon? Our school raises about $6000 a year doing this fundraiser at very little expense to the PTO

Has anyone organized a read-a-thon? Our PTA is trying to raise money so we can buy our school an outdoor marquee type sign. (We're probably the only school in the county who doesn't have one and we really think it would help communicate school events and activities). Our parents are not exactly wealthy and our regular PTA budget is only about $6,000. We need an additional $6,000 to purchase and install the sign. We were thinking of organizing a read-a-thon but soliciting businesses in our community to make pledges to support the kids in their effort to read so many minutes per day for 2-3 weeks. Anyone tried this?