Connecting Schools With Great Fundraising Ideas.

The Lead-Deadwood Elementary PTO is trying a different fundraiser for
their school in Deadwood, South Dakota, inspired by the District-wide
Wellness Plan. A “Fall into Reading” Read-A-Thon was held from
September 15th through 28th. The read-a-thon event was created to
encourage children to read more.

The read-a-thon is the school’s main fundraising for the year. The
goal is to raise the PTO’s annual budget of $15,000 with the
read-a-thon. The read-a-thon recieved lots of support from school
staff and parents.

Lots of ideas were presented as we tried to come up with something that we felt would work for the parents, teachers, kids, everyone involved. We were looking for something that fit in with the wellness plan, plus we were discouraged by the thought of giving up 60 percent of our profits as we had in years past. The group liked the idea of a Read-A-Thon and we also like the idea of having 100 percent of the funds we raise stay here to help our kids and our teachers in the classroom.” said Sandy Shirley, PTO Co-Chair.

The Lead-Deadwood Elementary School Principal, Tim Kosters agreed the read-a-thon was an excellent idea, “This is great for the kids as well as the staff. Our teachers will also benefit from the fundraising this year, as each will have the opportunity to submit a wish list to purchase things to use for their students and their classrooms. Most importantly, the kids will expand on their reading ability in the most critical learning years.”

Children that participate in the program will receive a complimentary
book appropriate to their age and reading level. As each child
raises $10, they “earn” $1 in “book bucks” that they can spend at the
November Scholastic Book Fair. The top fundraising class is awarded a
pizza party. The top fundraiser from each grade level is awarded a
prize that meets the Health and Wellness plan’s guidelines.

If you liked this article, you may want to read about this school
read-a-thon library fundraiser!

Source: Black Hills Pioneer

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Teens participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraising Skate-a-Thon. The event was held at the Oak Grove Skating Rink in city, state on Saturday, September 29th.

A number of the teens were skating in honor of people in their lives who had battled cancer.

“My grandmother had cancer, “Randa Tolar said.

Skaters that raised $25 in donations were given a t-shirt and lunch. They participated in four hours of skating. The event raised at least $500 just a few hours into the event, but more funds were expected to be raised throughout the day. This is the first time they held a skate-a-thon event.

Source: hattiesburgamerican.com

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Over 200 students participated in Fitness Fun Day at Walter Haigh Elementary School in Salem, New Hampshire on September 18th. Students walked, jogged, jumped rope and shot basketball hoops for the special fundraiser that set everyone into motion. The annual event was a fun way for all of the grades to be active for the day and it is the school’s primary fundraiser each year.

Parents, family and friends pledge funds for students based on each lap the student jogs, or for every basketball they shoot or for every time they skip the rope. The fitness fundraiser was created ten years ago, when the switch was made from traditional school fundraisers such as selling candy and magazines.

“One hundred percent of the money stays here this way and we don’t have to pay another company,” Jinnie LaVallo, a physical education teacher said. “The kids do it on their own. They’re earning their field trips, assemblies and playground improvements, and can see the results on their own.”

In past years, Walter Haigh Elementary School has raised between $7,000 and $10,000 from this fundraiser.

Source: The Eagle-Tribune

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The Western Illinois University Swimming and Diving Team hosted the 2007 Homecoming Swim-A-Thon Fundraiser on Saturday, September 29th in Macomb, Illinois. The swimmers swam continously for 5,000 yards and the divers dove for a full two hours at the event.

“This is a great event that allows our parents and fans to come show support for our team,” Western Illinois head swimming and diving coach Nathan Mundt said. “We encourage everyone to come out and spend some time with us as a pre-tailgate to the homecoming football game.”

The event was open to the public and after the event, a reception with the team was held. The funds raised will be used for various team expenses for the Swimming and Diving Team.

Source: WIU Athletics.com

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Friday, September 28th, students from St. Joseph Elementary School in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, participated in a walk-a-thon fundraiser to benefit their school. Funds raised went for a variety of school needs, from computers for school classrooms to the need for air-conditioning.

According to Cincinnati.com students walked two miles around the school’s campus. They stopped along the way at stations to participate in fun events like a tug-o-war and a water balloon toss.

To read about more fundraising walk-a-thon events, visit our sites: Step by Step Fundraising and CharityMile.com.

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Healthy fundraisers such as fitness events are rapidly replacing the cookie dough, bake sale and candy bar fundraisers of the past that schools used to hold. Stella Maris Catholic
Elementary School in Ontario, Canada has been holding a popular Fitness-Fun-A-Thon for the past five years as their main fundraising event. The event includes a full day of activities including soccer, baseball, badminton, basketball and dancing. There is even a big parachute used for a variety of fun activities.

It allows the kids to see that participating in physical activity can be fun and they’re still raising money for it,” says Barbara Maitre, parent council president. “It gets them outdoors and … it reminds them to get outdoors and have fun as opposed to selling chocolates and cookie dough.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in Windsor, Ontario last year sent out parent advisory council information offering ways to add health and wellness into their activities. Their goal was to reinforce the efforts schools were already making.

The Fitness-Fun-A-Thon at Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School raised $6,700 last year. The previous year’s event raised $6,000. Funds were used to purchase sports team uniforms and subsidize field trips.

Source: The Windsor Star

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A couple weeks back I wrote a post called Schools Getting Health-Wise, Need Healthy Fundraisers. The issue of wellness rules in school and finding healthy fundraisers is an ongoing topic. In fact more schools than ever will be looking for fundraisers that comply to school wellness rules.

In Fairbanks, Alaska the school board put in a new wellness policy that started in the 06-07 school year. So groups within the district had to find some new ways to fundraise without candy or chocolate. Some groups decided on healthy foods such as salads and bottled waters. Others sold candles, other items or held events or contests. Many were quite successful.

However, vending machines without candy bars apparently were not so exciting for students. Snack machines, which in past years supplied over $250,000 in revenue for the district saw a drop by 25% in 2006-2007.

The district isnt’ panicking, Sather said. Yes, revenues are down, but, again, she expects they will pick up in the coming years especially as snack companies respond to the growing national trend and provide a wider variety of healthier options.

(From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

I agree it’s definitely not time to panic! There will likely be even more new foods not only available for the vending machine program but for direct sale fundraisers as well.  Popcorn is one such fundraiser that is currently available. It will be interesting to see what others come out in the coming months and years!

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