We have been unsuccessful getting anything from Orlando for putting together a Disneyworld package. We do have a condo. I know that people that live in FL get discounts. Has anyone ever done this--just purchased items at a discount for something like this?
First of all. Awesome site. We are having an auction in May of this year. Does anybody have any ideas or possibily a list for the Atlanta area? Thanks.
Laurie, also scanning the online catalogs of other school's events is the same thing as what we are all doing here. Sharing ideas. We are sharing out lists of places we have had success with and have not had success. It saves us all time if we know who the "go to places" for donations are. Many times the places that donated are also listed in a brief newspaper article about the event afterwards. I know it feels like snooping or stealing, but it is not that in any way shape or form.
You know what annoys me? I have a friend that just asked me for contacts for their auction...which is about 2 hours from where our auction is. So I gave her some great links and info. She received a donation from one company that I did not have on my list, so I asked her if she could give me info of who to contact at that company so that I could apply to. She never responded and is now avoiding me. Now THAT is obnoxious!!
Laure, you are so funny.
I personally do not think it's obnoxious to look at who donated to other events in the area. It just tells you who is open to participating in these type of events. For some small businesses it's their inexpensive way of advertisting...getting their name out there. Sending these places a donation request letter isn't stealing. It's simply a request. People are allowed to say no. And a business is not going to stop donating to another school they have a long term relationship with just because you now send them a letter.
I have spent hours putting in requests to local businesses and then find the ones that said yes are the ones that said yes to other schools too. So seeing which places donate to these events is not obnoxious. It's simply efficient. I have found that most of the ones who say yes, tend to says yes to most schools that ask them for a donation.(unless there is some specific parent connection ect). Again, it's their way of advertising and it's an effective and inexpensive way to advertise. At the end of the day, it's a two way street.
