We recently completed a fitness trail/butterfly garden project.
All funding came from cash, material and service donations.
We recognized our supporters this way:

All donors who gave from one cent to $5,000 are listed in the trail brochure, listed on the thank you sign on the trail, listed in a newspaper thank you ad, sent a personalized thank you letter, and invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony/back-to-school picnic.

All volunteers who helped with Build A Trail Day were invited to the ceremony.

At the ceremony, we plan to call each donor and volunteer name and have them approach the podium. We will then pose for a group picture. We plan to print a picture for each donor and volunteer (about 75) as an additional thank you.

Those who volunteer throughout the school year are recognized during the annual Volunteer Week activities. Those who go above and beyond and the businesses who dig deep to accomplish the BIG goals should be recognized seperately and as publicly as possible.

As a bonus....when it comes time to complete the next BIG goal, it is far more likely that these folks will remember how well they were treated and the advertising they got and will be eager to help next time around.

I say if the others are in favor, go ahead with the ad. It's a small price to pay for the goodwill it will generate. And if you're lucky like we were, the newspaper will give you a discount on the ad rate and you can list them in the ad as a donor, too!

I would say to go ahead with the newspaper ad. This company didn't have to be that generous (or help at all) but went above and beyond the call. What an awesome thing they have done. I would also list the parents as well. I also like the idea of a personal letter to the business also, maybe already framed and ready to hang. What a neat idea!

Deb - I definitely agree with the others about not only thanking your sponsors and volunteers in the newspaper but with a personal letter. Make sure that you put it on the PTO or school letterhead. I always stop to look at letters of appreciation posted at businesses around town. Gives you a really good insight into how they support the community that supports them.

Large or small - we;ve always thanked via cards, verbal and thru the PTA/PTO/school newsletter and or certificates.

As for the newspaper ad - I like the idea, dont let the minority overurrule the majority- if the board votes to do it (past years and what they did is irrelevant- the past is the past). In my not so humble voice - I'd tell this person to shut up (hopefully more diplomatic then I)- thank them for their opionion, tell them the majority decided to do it, then move on........

I was a PResident that sent every Chairperson a personal thank you note as well as an end of year letter addressed to all chairpersons thanking them for their time, efforts, creativity and community spirit. I also reminded them of all the successes we had due to their participation.
I would most definitely thank those that did their part to making such a substantial contribution to the school. The companies deserve a formal letter, Certificate of Appreciation to hang in their lobby/office, a letter to the editor would also be appropriate in several newspapers touting this company's contribution. I would also call the local paper and have them send down a reporter for a local news story. An ad may be OK, but it may be overlooked as just an ad--however, a news story is just as much of a thank you as it is advertising for that company. Heck, you can even have the head of the company come to Back to School night and present them with a plaque and certificate. That way the parents are there to see how the PTO uses local businesses and maybe more will come "knocking at your door" to donate!!
for the parents that volunteered: Sending personal thank yous, putting their names on the bulletin board along with pictures of the installation, putting their names in the school newsletter would all be great and would convey how deeply you appreciate their contributions.

There is nothing more touching than to receive a personal thank you or public acknowledgement for volunteering. It also almost guarantees their future participation!

We put ads in the paper each year thanking everyone who donates to our carnival by name. (our biggest thing) If someone or a company donates for a specific project we will advertise that too. We also put thank yous in our newsletter and website.