Something done at school I never heard of

coopergirl3 · 10-03-2007, 04:35 PM

My daughter is in kindergarten, and being almost 26, it has been awhile since I was in school. I am sure that all of you can either remember or have kids that are selling stuff for school fundraising. Well, I do. My daughters school decided to do a walk-a-thon instead of selling things. I think it is a great idea. Yeah you still have to collect money from people, but you don't have to pick things up and then deliver them. The kids in K-2 walked one mile and the kids in 3-6 walked two miles. I am so happy that her school did this. Not only is it easier on the parents, but it is showing the kids that exercise is fun. I was just wondering what everyone else thought of this fundraiser or if any other schools are doing it.

pk · 10-03-2007, 07:44 PM

I was the PTO President for 3 years so it feels as if I saw all the different fundraiser options out there. lol

The walk-a-thon is always a great idea. We did one in a park close to our school one time. We left the school in a long line and walked to the park and around the park several times and back. We had a booths set up at certain locations along the way with refreshments etc. One thing I thought was cute that we did... we made signs (on the order of picket signs) with our school's name and what we were walking for etc.

All students were allowed to participate if they wanted to walk even those that did not bring in donations. The only thing different was the students that brought in money was able to win prizes. We had several great prizes one for the person that brought the most money in, and I think maybe 2nd, and 3rd place, and also a few drawings.

We actually had a few area business's donate money and one person's place of employment sent us a large check.

One thing that I thought of doing but lacked the time to do it was to have a local DJ come and set up in the park and maybe even have a few vendors selling food and advertise the event and get more public awarness. But then we always did things up big when we did events.

pk · 10-03-2007, 07:47 PM

I should have mentioned that my son and grandson are both in middle school now and their school just had their large walk-a-thon. My son found out it worked out great for him to get people to sponser him by going with me to Garage Sales. If we found something we wanted to buy he would then show them his paper on the walk and ask if they wanted to donate. Worked everytime. But then not to many people can say no to a cute face like his. lol

pk

pk · 10-03-2007, 07:55 PM

Instead of selling items to raise money another thing we would do is have festivals at the school. It was great fun for everyone, made for a fun family night, and we earned $$ at the same time.

Our school did a karookee/dinner night one time which was a great hit. The kids all picked out songs they wanted to sing, practiced with each other, a local karookee person with equipment came in at a low cost to us for the evening, dinner was made by a few parents and we had a cover charge. What was fun for the kids was the fact that teachers came up in groups and performed too! We decorated the cafeteria tables with white tablecloths and battery candles on all tables and made a stage with blinking lights. Lots of fun for all.

The place was packed with parents that had to see their children on stage.

Great entertainment, and cash for the school future events etc.

pk

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-04-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopergirl3

My daughter is in kindergarten, and being almost 26, it has been awhile since I was in school. I am sure that all of you can either remember or have kids that are selling stuff for school fundraising. Well, I do. My daughters school decided to do a walk-a-thon instead of selling things. I think it is a great idea. Yeah you still have to collect money from people, but you don't have to pick things up and then deliver them. The kids in K-2 walked one mile and the kids in 3-6 walked two miles. I am so happy that her school did this. Not only is it easier on the parents, but it is showing the kids that exercise is fun. I was just wondering what everyone else thought of this fundraiser or if any other schools are doing it.

The grade school here in Sullivan just did a walk a thon to help raise money. I thought that was a great idea myself.

The middle school is doing a magazine sale right now, and I"m sure they will be selling something come December/Christmas time.

The high school was selling candy

Carol

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-04-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pk

I should have mentioned that my son and grandson are both in middle school now and their school just had their large walk-a-thon. My son found out it worked out great for him to get people to sponser him by going with me to Garage Sales. If we found something we wanted to buy he would then show them his paper on the walk and ask if they wanted to donate. Worked everytime. But then not to many people can say no to a cute face like his. lol

pk

Good idea. One way to get sponsors
Carol

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-04-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pk

Our school did a karookee/dinner night one time which was a great hit. The kids all picked out songs they wanted to sing, practiced with each other, a local karookee person with equipment came in at a low cost to us for the evening, dinner was made by a few parents and we had a cover charge. What was fun for the kids was the fact that teachers came up in groups and performed too! We decorated the cafeteria tables with white tablecloths and battery candles on all tables and made a stage with blinking lights. Lots of fun for all.

pk

This is a great idea and one I'm going to steal from here and share with the school PTO President.

They hold dances for the kids 4x a year...free....and those are always so packed. I could see the karaoke being a big pull in of participants!

I'll be sure to tell them I learned of this idea on the Bubbler!

Carol

pk · 10-05-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Good idea. One way to get sponsors
Carol

Sometimes it pays to be creative. lol

My son was doing everything he could think of and we just happen to be going to sales one morning and he thought of it. Let's face it, the people at the garage sales are in a good mood with all this cash in their box...might as well ask if they want to spend some while it is right there in front of them. lol

Everyone was really all very nice about helping him too.
pk

pk · 10-05-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

This is a great idea and one I'm going to steal from here and share with the school PTO President.

They hold dances for the kids 4x a year...free....and those are always so packed. I could see the karaoke being a big pull in of participants!

I'll be sure to tell them I learned of this idea on the Bubbler!

Carol

Hope it works as great for you as it did for us.

sparkyhaze · 10-09-2007, 01:06 PM

that sounds better then just selling things.My daughter is in kindergarden also.Her school has a family fun night.It supposed to work out well.

she · 10-10-2007, 06:09 PM

I think the walk a thon is a great idea, I wish there were more things out there like that rather than all the fundraising. My son is in Cub Scouts and of course right now is the Popcorn sales time. Everything is overpriced and most people cringe at the prices. It would probably be a lot easier to do something else like these ideas. That and my son would never go door-to-door, so it's been strictly trying to get family to buy from him. I feel bad but if he can't be more outgoing..there's not much more I can do..lol

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-10-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkyhaze

that sounds better then just selling things.My daughter is in kindergarden also.Her school has a family fun night.It supposed to work out well.

Family fun nights are real fun. The grade school here in Sullivan holds them. When my kids were in grade school we always attended them. Fun, and you meet others in your community
Carol

**keith** · 10-10-2007, 07:33 PM

Love your post coopergirl...and the replies you elicited!

Walk-a-thon sounds great.

Our grade school always did well with a carnival that's grown every year combined with a silent auction that has also grown. I'm a sucker for those. The carnival has some great games and a jail. Youngsters pay to put their parents in jail and of course someone has to pay for the folks to get bailed out. The last auction had a jet flight with Chuck Yaeger (sp?) as a prize. Some raffles go along, plus refreshments including a bake sale and ice cream ~ the annual "Ice Cream Social" (a great name for a Springtime event that draws virtually every family (including parents, grandparents and siblings) with kids in the grade school.

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By the way, she, the price of the popcorn isn't so bad when you consider that a piece of that helps support a fantastic youth program. As a former Scout leader, encourage you to encourage your son to do the door-to-door the only proper way: the buddy system. Having a friend with you and some good goals (and perhaps an instant reward like a stop by a local place for an ice cream or a hot chocolate after completing 'x' number of stops) makes for more fun, more responsibility for the youngsters, and a bit less stress on Mom. Besides, it's easier to ask family if the youngster has proven himself elsewhere. For wreath sales in Boy Scouts my company often bought 50 or 100 wreaths to give to clients - but only after the Scout sold as many on his own.

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Just my opinions which, along with a couple of bucks, will get you a cup of coffee at almost any George Webb restaurant.

Regards,
Keith