Dear LStrean-
My husband is a PE teacher at a middle school and I am newly involved in the PTO at my childrens' elementary school where similar "wellness policies" are either in effect or are starting. Personally I am all for them. I am also a distributor for Shaklee, a global health and wellness company with a 50 year history of "being in harmony with nature for better health and a better environment." I have recently become aware of a fundraising effort using the health and wellness products available from Shaklee. It is a "turn-key" fundraising program that is an on-going income producer, not a one-time event. Thirty-three percent of the sales price is returned to the sponsoring non-profit group. Not only is it a fundraiser for the group but it helps families to begin to use earth-friendly, non-toxic household cleaners and personal products as well as begin to care for their overall health with proven nutritional products. I am going to do some more learning about the idea and I hope to present it to our local PTO's for the upcoming school year.

Our best fundraiser has been the skate parties that we have done for seven years now!! The kids love it and we raise lots of cash.
The skate rink is a dream to work with and the kids are offered incentives to have the best class atendance with fun prizes.

We have a Jog-A-Thon each year that is a big hit with everyone! We set up a "track" on a grassy area near the playground that has starting tables located at intervals around the track. There is one table for each classroom. This table is where the students leave their bottled water (supplied) and stop to have their "runners bib" hole-punched each time around the track. We have volunteers handle the hole punching. Because of the number of classrooms we have, the teachers sign up for one of 3 45-min timeslots. We have lively music playing to keep the kids entertained, and serve popsicles at the end of each timeslot. Prizes are awarded for a number of different things.

What about a walk a thon? We are having our first one in a few weeks. Each student is being asked to get $50 in donations. That is only 10 $5 donations. We also are asking local businesses sponsor each classroom to make more money. Our gym teacher is working with us and having the students walk or run during gym class, to help condition them for the event. I'll let you know if it's a success.

Our school has never done this, but I would like to get them to try it sometime. I am a Pampered Chef consultant and we offer fundraisers. I would love to be in charge of one for my school (or any other school for that matter). Students would just take orders and money and I submit and deliver to the school!

Our school sells "custom" bottled water with our School logo and name on it to staff and at all events in which any school in our system is involved. We also do an auction each spring and a Vegas Night at our school. We rarely sell and type of food for a fundraiser since the food is usually full of sugar and preservatives and requires refrigeration and room to store. We had nothing but trouble with cookie dough and pizzas etc. We raised over $40,000 last year doing three fundraisers. Of course you have to consider the economy where you live. Candles sell well, but it seems everyone else is doing that! We try to think of new things to do. We are looking into energy bars etc. to sell after school to the students involved in athletcis. They don't always get a good meal at dinner time due to sports pracitces and many times there is nothing in the machines that would be healthy for them to eat!