I do Teacher Appreciation for our School PTA and School Supply fundraiser. If anyone needs Chicago Suburbs ideas here are some:

So far this year:
Laurie Berkner = 3 signed cd's
Hollywood Palms= sending coupons for all staff
Chicago Fire = 4 ticket certificate
Fasono's Pizza = 1 Pizza
Gorilla Tango Theatre = 4 tickets
Windy City Thunderbolts= Family Fun Pack
Texas Roadhouse = 2 entrees and 2 appitizers
Oil Express = 2 oil changes
Brunswick Zone = Family Fun Pack
Annoyance Theatre = 2 tickets
Lou Malanati's = $25 gift card
Marriott Theatre = 2 tickets
Chicago Bulls = yearbook
White Sox = 4 Upper Resv. Tickets
Shedd Aquarium = 4 VIP passes
www.pinkcaylx.com = $50 gift certicate (must send self addressed stamped envelope)
Wikki Stix = Samples for all staff

Had luck in past companies:
Zacarelli's pizza
Kingston Mines
Tastee Freez
Venetian Gardens
Wildfire Steakhouse
SpareTime
Cooper's Hawk
R & B liquors
Bridgeview liquors
LifeLine Theatre
Jimmy's Restaurant
Comedy Sportz Theatre
Massimo Zanetti
Devon Seafood
Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Blackhawks
Chew Chew
Twinnings Tea
Beacon Ridge
Bar 1
Georgious Restaurant
Chicago Dramatists
Roger & Hollands
Fred Astaire Dance
Zanies Comedy Club
Sam Ash
Lynfred Winery
Mitchell's Fish Market
Oceanique
Krispy Kreme
Supreme Tamales
Jenny's Steakhouse
Max & Erma's
Rainforest Cafe
Waterhouse
The Cheesecake Factory
Marche
TRU
Red Light
Chicago Bagel & Bialy II
Chicago Slaughter
Grill Concepts
Uncle Julio's
Eduardo's
www.gourmetgiftbasket.com
Miller's Pub
Galiec Park
115 Bourbon Street
IO
Mary Kay
Olympia Bakery
Cracker Barrel
Bennett-Curtis House
Quizno's
Wine Styles
Chicago Wolves Hockey
etc... I have more but honestly there is too MUCH to type

Best Suggestion I can give is know the companies that are very local or family owned usually want to see a person asking for it to give, where as most of the bigger companies want it faxed, mailed, emailed, or the online form done. And think of what you are raising the stuff for when asking for items. When I did School Supply drive I added that we needed playground equipment and got 4 basketballs from the Chicago Bulls and pencils from White Sox, but for Teacher Appreciation I got a yearbook, signed photo, and tickets. Also, it is alot easier getting merchandise than cash donations. I found I had more success when I incorparated the larger city near me than just my town. As for committee chairs we meet often and everyone does their part asking for donations, decorating, and making things to go along with the fundraiser. I also found that it helped our big MONEY fundraiser that the kid's sell from a book to offer more incentives to be raffled off and I asked businesses for those, as well as other committees that sell things such as the book fair and spirit wear committees to donate merchandise. (It helps when you also head or help with the other committees).
Shari

We just got a No from AirTran:(...No worries we have so many great baskets for our event this Saturday that it's all good.
To draw a crowd and offer great grand prizes we decided for the PTO to purchase a few items. An Ipad2,a 42 inch samsung HD TV,and a PS3. Total cost
was around $1300. We hope people will be purchasing the grand prize tickets to win these great items. This was a calculated risk but hope for a good return.

Regarding Gymboree:
mail a letter to
500 Howard Street
San Francisco, Ca 94105
We received a $35 gift card

Some more for Delaware:

AAA Mid-Atlantic (1 yr. membership)
1 River Place, Wilmington, 19801

DE Division of Parks and Recreation (2 annual park passes)
89 Kings Highway, Dover, 19901

Brandywine Zoo (6 park passes)
1001 N. Park Drive, Wilmington, 19802

Dover Downs (2 race tickets)
1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, 19901

Grotto's Pizza ($25 gift card)
20376 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, 19971

Cape May-Lewes Ferry (2 foot-passenger tickets)
Customer Service, P.O. Box 827, North Cape May, NJ 08204

Wilmington Blue Rocks (4 tickets)
801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington, 19801

We have also been lucky with these:

American Eagle Outfitters ($25 gift card)
77 Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15203

Cracker Barrel ($25 meal certificate)
P. O. Box 787, Lebanon, TN, 37088

Delaware State Fair (4 Ice Rink tickets)
P. O. Box 28, Harrington, 19962

Delmarva Shorebirds (4 box seat tickets, weekdays)
P.O. Box 1557, Salisbury, Md. 21801

Kings Dominion (2 park passes)
P.O. Box 2000, Doswell, Va. 23047

rue 21 ($25 gift card)
Customer Service, 600 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 100, Warrendale, Pa. 15806

And these have given but you have to ask locally:

Buffalo Wild Wings (gift certificates)
Domino's Pizza (free pizza's)
Outback Steakhouse
Wal-mart

Bridget,
Congrats on getting your AirTran. I just uploaded a flyer/certificate that I used in place of putting the actual tickets on display. It is called AirTran and is listed in the File Exchange under donations. Feel free to edit and use.
Gary

Today was a GREAT day! We received confirmation from AirTran Airways that we were awarded 2 coach tickets! Literally the only thing I am waiting on receiving word on is American Girl. Considering that our auction is 4/9/11, I have lost most hope, but I had chalked AirTran up as a "no" as well and was pleasantly surprised!

Thanks to all who have helped out

Ideas for Delware:

Bluehens website

Mountaire website

delmnh (dot org)

Delware McDoanlds website has a donation request form

MLSSoccer

Wilmington Blue Rocks