We just finished our Fall fundraising this week. We were very surprised at our turn out because of all that has just happened. I for one am very thankful for all the families who returned orders and help make it a success. It is hard to think of ways to raise funds in light of this tragedy but our children do need continuity. For some of us adults it is not going to be business as usual but life has to keep going. Our children need that because they are our future.
I grew up in the military and spent most of my teenage years in Berlin when the Wall was still up and when it came down. I was still there during Desert Storm and saw many of our friends go to Saudi and come back not the same people. Their lives were different but they kept living.
I think that doing family oriented fund raisers is a great idea. Incorporating a donation drive to benifit the Red Cross or Salvation Army would most likely give you a good turn out. Maybe explain to the families that a portoin of the funds you receive from the fall fundraiser would go towards one of the relief efforts would help.
We all feel we should be doing something and we are. It may not be us out there in the battle fields or at ground zero but we are helping by standing in the gap for our children by teaching them to be good citizens. I too feel very emotional about everything that has happened. Thank you for listening.
I am with you. One of the things that we will be doing at our executive board meeting Thurs., is review the budget and "get back to basics." There are so many creative, meaningful ways that we can show appreciation for our teachers and promote family FUN, without having to spend PTA money. Perhaps this national tragedy can give us the opportunity to reasses what is REALLY important.
I'm so glad you brought this up!! This may not be popular to say but I think this tragedy presents us all with an opportunity to address our fund-raising goals and where our schools 'needs' fit against other people's concerns and true needs. This has been a subject close to my frugal heart, as I have been purchasing wrapping paper, candy etc over the years so children who live in $400,000 homes and who have beautifully equipped schools can have soccer uniforms that rival the professionals. Maybe we need to go back to basics- like tee-shirts-...
This is especially close to me because my school is a school for special needs kids and our fundraiser goes to the budget to support therapies and class size that the Board of Ed does not fully support and we 'compete ' for business donations with very elite private schools whose families maintain 2-3 homes. I still feel guilty fundraising for mine, because I know many of our 'sister' special ed schools envy our rsources.
I don't mean to belittle the nice things we do for our kids, the uniforms, new playgrounds, and I know for many of us our fundraising dollars go to balance budgets, but I also know that I've heard many parents quietly complain about the many fundraisers thay are asked to participate in and think that this might be the time for us to take stock and say 'enough is enough'.
Thanks for the soapbox.
I have had a parent suggest sending a letter asking for direct contributions to meet the minimal budget needs for the PTA. I have a carefully worded sample letter to present to the Executive Board Thursday. I am not very optimistic about the Board's response... we already have a lot of negativity, but I thought I would bring in a small sampling of parent responses with the letter. I just feel strongly that we need to minimize the requests that we make of businesses in respect to the greater national needs. If we are able to bring in money through direct contributions, we could still have family FUN RAISER events. Then we might be able to give all of our raffle proceeds to the Red Cross or another organization. I am so torn on this subject... I just want to do what is best for the school (and kids), but still be sensitive to our greater national concerns. I would appreciate any input people have on this subject. Thanks again.
I had already sent out requests for donations prior to 9/11 but share your concerns. We are having a silent action at our fall festival and I have gotten the student council to take on a canned food drive at the same time. I am also looking into another type of fundraiser (maybe a penny drive) for the Red Cross or something. Some way to give back to the community. Perhaps you could incorporate a donation to the Red Cross or the 911 foundation along with your auction? Or perhaps give part of your proceeds to one or the other.
I am the donation chair for our school and I am also supposed to be running an auction this spring. In light of current events... and an unknown future... how are other schools reassessing their fundraising campaigns? I am not comfortable asking all of the local and national companies for donations for non specific needs (i.e.: I am comfortable asking businesses to help us run events that are family centered... community building... and will give the children a sense of continuity) We have never run an auction before and we do not have any capital projects that are needed- we need to meet our budget (which may also get revised in light of the current climate). I am considering running a family centered event in place of the auction. Again, I am not comfortable asking for money, when there is a greater national need. What are your thoughts? How are other schools dealing with this? PLEASE give me input before Thursday... we have an executive board meeting scheduled. THANK YOU
