We are a public school on military property so we can not advertise our fundraisers to the surrounding communities. This makes it very difficult to raise money for our school. However, we just had our Open House. The PTO had a bake sale, and membership drive. At the last minute, we put together some patriotic buttons just because. We charged a donation for the baked goods, regular price for membership, and $1 a button. We had our best bake sale ever, we now have more memberships than we did last year, and we sold out of the 125 buttons we had made. We decided to take orders for the buttons and actually sold 232 buttons that night. I think at times like this, if you think small, you will get a big return. Good luck!
At our elementary school in Medina, TN, we just held our 2nd annual Autumn Fest on Sept. 28. We have approximately 450+ students in our school which is PreK thru 4th. We haven't gotten the final total yet but we should be close to $15,000 profit. This is approx. $2,000 more than last year. It is a one night event and we the parents do not have to do any fund-raisers. We have a spaghetti supper; concession stand; Old Country Store (homebake and homemade items are sold);cakewalk;games and activities such as duck pond;face painting;candy store; bingo; auction; and local vendors are set up in our gym (they paid $35 for their booth space and they keep all the money off what they sell). The other major event that we do is a King and Queen Contest. Any child who wishes to participate returns a signed permission slip from their parents. They them set out small canisters at local stores and businesses to collect money. (Some parents even held yard sales to help their child raise money. Then on the day before the Autumn Fest, they turn in all the money they have collected. We have 2 sets of Kings and Queens. The boy and girl that bring in the most money in PreK through Second Grade are King and Queen for their age division and then a boy and girl who bring in the most money in the Third and Fourth Grade are King and Queen for their age division. Each of these winners receives a crown and their picture will be in the school annual. Every child that participated receives a goody bag. This year this event alone brought in over $6,000. Individuals, businesses and companies donate not only money for booths but also material things to be used in the auction We are very fortunate to have a very supportive community and surrounding area. Just to show how supportive they are, donations had already been made between April 2001 and August 2001 of over $20,000 toward the P.T.O.'s purchase of three pieces of Little Tikes playground equipment, security fence and mulch. Hopefully you can use some or all of these ideas. Medina Elementary P.T.O., Inc.
Our school does not make $15,000 in one fundraiser. it is a good year when we raise $15,000 in the entire school year. We have just been redistricted and are in an old bldg. that has been redone to an elementary school. We began our first fundraiser 3 days after the attack. We sold frozen pizza and cookie dough from Zap-a-snack. I was hoping to get $2500 profit. Instead we sold over $13,500 worth of food and made a profit of $4800. We always try to make sure we are selling something that is reasonably priced and that everyone needs. everyone has to eat and everyone loves convenience. I also stressed to the parents that this tragedy points out how important helping our children really is.
Our Fall giftwrap fundraiser was 9/10 - 9/24 and did experience some of a drop. We're looking to add an "optional participation" wreaths fundraiser in Nov/Dec. We'll send home a note with each flyer so parents don't feel pressured to buy.
Just wanted to let you know that we made our goal for the fall fund raiser, which was $9,000 profit. Lickily we erred on the conservative side for this. I think the principal promising to dye her hair blue is what made it for us. The parents have been coming up to me asking how close we were to the goal. They were ready to start up a "blue hair donation drive" if need be. A fund raiser idea to think of is the Figaros pizza peelers. They are sold for $5. A local dance studio did this fund raiser and made $6,000. Figaros also agreed to take back the remaining unsold peelers. It might be worth a try.
Was your school district in one of the attack areas??
So many radio stations and groups here in the midwest are collecting BIG money for the victims in New York. One of the big fund raisers here is the United Way. Our local United Way has already collected over $850,000!!
I'm hesitant to give, as there seems to be no focus as to exactly where this money is going to except the "victims of NYC". It's just too vague for my liking.
Using this terrific forum, could your PTO/PTA solicit a "sister" school somewhere else in the US or in your home state?
As a consumer, I would be more apt to give a cash donation if I knew exactly where the money was going.
