PTO Today

Hello, I am a newbie here. I am also new to the our school's PTO as my son just started there this year. I am interested in hosting a Spring Fling to help raise money for new playground equipment as the county's risk management department removed the play ground a year or so ago due to the age of the items. We have been told that if the school wants a new playground it is up to the school to pay for it. I am looking for ideas on the best course of action for obtaining new playground equipment. Any help is appreciated.

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Parish Tanner
Ocala, Fl
Dunnellon Elementary PTO Vice President
Angels In Arms Board of Advisors

See if you School Board would be willing to do a "matching funds deal" go to your City or Town wide PTO meeting and request this format.
We did this and the City agreed it took a lot of good fundraising efforts but the kids now have new equipment to play on.

Another idea is if you happen to have a couple of large corporations nearby you could see if they would be willing to do the same idea this way they don't feel like you are not doing your part.

Lastly "Lowes" and "Home Depot" do grant monies for big projects like this which you need to go on line to their sites and see if any are available right now, you must have all your finacial needs set out in the application to win it but it is worth the try.

Good Luck!

I got the contact information for the approved vendors to build the playground. I will be contacting them this week to get 3 estimates and drawings. This way we can set one goal and have other goals if we raise enough. But still accomplish one goal if the pie in the sky goal can not be met.

I have been reading more on this site and others. I like the idea of the funds matching. If we could get the town to do it or the school board (not likely i hear) and maybe one or 2 big businesses to that would really be a great thing.

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Parish Tanner
Ocala, Fl
Dunnellon Elementary PTO Vice President
Angels In Arms Board of Advisors

We got our new playground delivered today.. instillation will be next week. We are 1 school (500+) in a district with 13 elementary schools. All of the PTO/PTA/PFAs need to raise money themselves if they want a new playground. We raised about 75K in a little less than a year. Gametime is our vendor, and they had a matching grant program that just happened to be in Jersey this year. (u do not have to be 501(c)3 for this grant). We applied, were approved, and it allowed us to pick out a different configuration than what was originally thought. But, with the grant, we werea able to purchase 2 parge pieces of equipment rather than 1. All told, we spent 58K on 2 pieces, rather than one piece for 85K. Gametime usually holds sales twice a year- spring and fall- wherer they can offer up to 50% discount on certain pieces.. check with your local reps. Good luck on your endeavor!

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If you believe, you can achieve.

That sounds great. I am not sure that we can use Game time. We have to use the vendors with contracts with the district. We can use American Park & Play, Kool Playgrounds, Playmore Recreational Products, Miracle Recreation Equipment. The list may change by the time we have the funs though.

One of them told me about the sale and it was ending soon. My thought is there will always be a deal to be had if we are patient.

WOW 75K is a ton of cash. Looks like after talking with the principal there are several other projects that need attention as well. There is no indoor PE area. Doing PE in the Florida Heat is CRAZY and then in the winter when it is just as crazy.

They are also wanting to do Technology upgrades like new computers and going wireless. Just wireless they were told $30k. That seem CRAZY. First why wireless? Unless we can not run cat5e. Wireless leads to hacks in my experience. Not good for a school.

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Parish Tanner
Ocala, Fl
Dunnellon Elementary PTO Vice President
Angels In Arms Board of Advisors