PTO Today

Could I get the info on who to contact as well? This sounds like a great idea. My email tvalenzuela@usd246.org Thanks, Tina.

I'm confused, if it's a fundraiser, is it also competitive, when you say a school was "awarded" a dinner?

In another posted scenerio...
If they cater a dinner, then you're paying for it right?

Finally, if Outback has food to sell at an event, does your organization have to cover some cost of their food, in addition to supplies like the drinks?

Can someone please enlighten on the money making possibilities for our schools?

I never organized one, but I attended one at our school this year hosted by the athletic boosters. It was great!

We have at least 3 (maybe more) Outback restaurants in our metropolitan area. At least here, it's a location by location decision of the owner/manager - so not a corporate one. The location closest to us does nothing, but this one that was further away used to sponsor a dinner every year. They closed recently, so the athletic group is really sad to lose that big fundraiser.

As an attendee, I can describe how ours worked. It was part of a spirt event adjacent to the football field back in August. Tickets were pre-sold for $10 each. The Outback folks set up commerical quality canopy tent. (because it was hot). Everyone lined up and when you got to the serving area, they had styrofoam to-go cartons and you went thru the line. It was pretty simple. You were given a grilled chicken breast or (small) sirloin steak, mashed potatoes, pre-dressed salad, bread, and then at the end picked either a glass of ice tea or bottle of water. I don't recall any dessert. I do remember there were signs up with tips jars at each end stating that Outback had donated the food and the employees were donating their time - just for whatever tips were collected.

I think there was one of the huge trailer-like grills further back where everything was being cooked.

It was very well prepared, pretty quick to go through the line, and tasty.

I thought I also heard that the restaurants can only donate so many of these each year since it's pretty expensive. So I imagine there's some sort of criteria or competetiveness as to who gets one.

So good luck to whomever does this.

So if I understand correctly, Outback donated the food and the $10 was what PTO charged as the fundraising part?

So if I understand correctly, Outback donated the food and the $10 was what PTO charged as the fundraising part?

That's what I understood to be the case. But it was the Athletic Boosters that did this, not the PTO. And I was only an attendee.

On Outback's website, they have this statement:

[FONT=Arial]====================[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Outback Steakhouse takes great pride in giving back to our communities by supporting many meaningful organizations. These range from civic & charitable groups, to youth sports and parent teacher organizations. Our giving is accomplished by donating our serious food and enlisting the volunteer spirit of our employees, we call them Outbackers, to help organizations raise money and awareness for their cause.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial] [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Please contact your local Outback Steakhouse directly regarding sponsorships or donation requests. Please have a written proposal prepared to submit for their review.[/FONT]
=================

I looked through their website and couldn't find that statement anywhere. What's the link that you're using?