School fundraisers

[Pigeon]

I don't mind supporting our public school. They need the money.

But we don't do fundraisers. My children aren't going to hawk overpriced crap for Corporate America. Corporate America can sell its own crap. I write a check to the PTA at back to school night, and we recycle all the fundraiser literature as soon as it hits the house. That way, the school gets 100% of the money and Sally Foster gets squat. Works for me.

The assemblies that schools have to get the kids spun up to sell the crap in order to receive a trinket are nothing short of obscene.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I am furious! Friday, DS brings home ANOTHER fundraiser form full of JUNK to sell! He is also expected to sell fruit for band. That I don't mind. At least that is healthy. But this latest catalog with JUNK, and I mean JUNK, is too much. I'm about to send an e-mail to the advisor in charge of this one. This is to raise money for the Prom. I guess times have changed. I don't remember ever having fund raisers for Prom. The cheapest thing I've been able to find in the catalog is a flimsey polyester scarf with Christmas bulbs on it for $9.50! I'll bet I could pick the same thing up at the Dollar Tree or Big Lots for a buck or two. I already have a running tab at work of other employees and what I've bought from their kids. It just gets to be too much!

TC

 

[aprilgail2]

I am furious! Friday, DS brings home ANOTHER fundraiser form full of JUNK to sell! He is also expected to sell fruit for band. That I don't mind. At least that is healthy. But this latest catalog with JUNK, and I mean JUNK, is too much. I'm about to send an e-mail to the advisor in charge of this one. This is to raise money for the Prom. I guess times have changed. I don't remember ever having fund raisers for Prom.
TC

For prom?? Boy we paid for our ticket ourselves which covered the catering hall, the band, dinner etc- we did not fundraise for it. If you had the money you went , if not you did not -simple as that.

 

[marciemi]

As your kids get older they get smarter. When youngest DS (13) started soccer this year, he had to talk with a teacher after school the day of the first practice. I asked him if he was on time to practice and he said that he wouldn't have been, but they were still giving their fundraiser pep talk when he got there.

I looked through his stuff and didn't see any fundraiser info. I asked him where his fundraiser packet was and he told me he hadn't gotten one. When I asked him why he said "I didn't pick one up. You didn't REALLY want to buy wrapping paper and cookie dough, did you?"

 

[Stacerita]

I HATE fundraising. I especially hate teh ones where you have to send in 10 postcards for the magazine sales. I started picking random names out of the phone book just to get the cards sent back in!!

I think there are a few people out there who are doing that. I got a postcard one in the mail the other day from people I have no clue who they are.

As your kids get older they get smarter. When youngest DS (13) started soccer this year, he had to talk with a teacher after school the day of the first practice. I asked him if he was on time to practice and he said that he wouldn't have been, but they were still giving their fundraiser pep talk when he got there.

I looked through his stuff and didn't see any fundraiser info. I asked him where his fundraiser packet was and he told me he hadn't gotten one. When I asked him why he said "I didn't pick one up. You didn't REALLY want to buy wrapping paper and cookie dough, did you?"

Smart kid!

 

[sahd2one]

My school had bake sales, or carwashes to raise funds for yearbook or band trips, etc. Schools have always been in need of money no matter the "economic" conditions.

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

 

[mfd25wife]

DD had one when she was in elem. that required them to sell a certain amount that would equal $35 for the school if they wanted to participate in an ice cream party. She was Kinder. of 1st. I handed a $35 check to the principle and asked him to sign her up.

Candles, I don't mind. People at work actually ask around for people who may be selling. They also ask about pizza. Boston Butts are huge around here but every month, someone is selling them. Oh, wait. I think this month is spiral hams... I hate the chocolates/wrapping paper/etc.

 

[C.Ann]

My school had bake sales, or carwashes to raise funds for yearbook or band trips, etc. Schools have always been in need of money no matter the "economic" conditions.

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

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Tell your DD not to worry about it - because people are spending money like water in your neck of the woods.. The school will be fine - even without your support..

 

[monsterkitty]

My school had bake sales, or carwashes to raise funds for yearbook or band trips, etc. Schools have always been in need of money no matter the "economic" conditions.

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

The Scholastic money depends on which option the school uses. They can earn money for books for the library or classroom, or they can receive a portion of the sales (50%)for general purposes.

We are only all allowed to do the book fair and one other fund raiser at our school. The librarian runs the book fair and the PTSA does the other fund raiser.

 

[ZPT1022]

I HATE fundraising. I especially hate teh ones where you have to send in 10 postcards for the magazine sales. I started picking random names out of the phone book just to get the cards sent back in!!

That's pretty rude. I find that most friends and relatives that I ask don't mind receiving a postcard in the mail. We call them or email them, ask if they mind if we send one, and they usually say, "Sure, why not?" We are sure to mention that there is NO obligation to buy anything, she just has to send the postcards to get a patch for scouts. Besides, we have to put DD's full name on the postcards in order for her to be credited and I really don't want to be mailing some stranger my kid's contact information

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

I know at my daughter's school the school receives books for the library or classroom based on sales. Not sure the percentage but a big incentive for us with the book fair or the regular book club flyer is the savings to us. For example, DD is into Junie B Jones books and keeps borrowing them from the library. Cool, we're glad she's getting into reading. To buy ONE book at Barnes & Noble was over $4. Through the flyer I bought the complete set of 25 books for $40, which saved me over $60 compared to buying at the store. Regardless of what the school's cut is, I think that's a pretty good deal. And I'd much rather buy books than overpriced wrapping paper and trinket-y junk

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We got a new PTO president this year (a dad - first one I've seen on the PTO in 8 years!). At Back-To-School Night, he said the school would be doing much less fundraising this year and asking for donations instead. He said the amount hadn't yet been set but we would see a notice come home soon.

So, the notice comes home and guess how much they want - $120 per child! This is in addition to the $40 they want for field trips (our school takes the kids to a series of plays at a local theater). This is a public elementary/middle school. We currently only have one child in the school since our older son left last year to attend a private special ed school.

We paid the $120 and I'm thinking, we'll at least we won't be selling stuff this year. So last week, my son comes home with a wrapping paper catalog! There's a note saying the PTO decided to do this fundraiser but there won't be any others requiring selling. I don't have enough confidence right now to believe that we won't be asked to sell more things during the year. And with the current economy, no one wants to buy expensive wrapping paper and other Christmas trinkets. My son wants to sell at least 7 items so he can get ice cream at lunchtime. My sister and I put him at that limit. Otherwise, we won't be selling anything.

 

[C.Ann]

I know at my daughter's school the school receives books for the library or classroom based on sales. Not sure the percentage but a big incentive for us with the book fair or the regular book club flyer is the savings to us. For example, DD is into Junie B Jones books and keeps borrowing them from the library. Cool, we're glad she's getting into reading. To buy ONE book at Barnes & Noble was over $4. Through the flyer I bought the complete set of 25 books for $40, which saved me over $60 compared to buying at the store. Regardless of what the school's cut is, I think that's a pretty good deal. And I'd much rather buy books than overpriced wrapping paper and trinket-y junk

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I love the book fairs at my DGD's school! I attend every single one.. They have a great selection of books for children and adults alike.. I buy tons of books for DGD, my adult DD, and myself.. There is always room in my budget for books.. "To read is to learn.." - therefore it's not an area where I want to cut corners or quibble about how much of the money goes where..

 

[allison443]

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

Did you have a certain percentage in mind that the school would have to receive before you would buy the books? Like you would only purchase if the school received "x" amount? Why--didn't you see any intrinsic value in purchasing books for your daughter, encouraging her reading, etc.?
I guess I'm just one of those people that is always willing to buy books for my kids.

 

[aprilgail2]

My DD was already upset because I would not buy books at the Scholastic School fair because no one would answer how much money actually went to the schools. Even Scholastic refused to answer my emailed question.

We have 2 book fairs a year fall and spring- we get 50 percent of what we sell.
We thought we were going to have trouble with the general fundraisers this year due to the economy but we actually made more than we have made in the past 5 years on this years fall fundraiser- we brought in about 4,000 more than we budgeted to bring in!

 

[sahd2one]

Did you have a certain percentage in mind that the school would have to receive before you would buy the books? Like you would only purchase if the school received "x" amount? Why--didn't you see any intrinsic value in purchasing books for your daughter, encouraging her reading, etc.?
I guess I'm just one of those people that is always willing to buy books for my kids.

First off, my kid has more books than she can possibly read in her school years at the moment. We have a huge library from when we were kids. Secondly, we love the library and don't need to purchase more books. So your questions about the intrinsic value in purchasing books falls on deaf ears here.

You seem to miss the point that we have a problem with corporately run fundraisers at schools. The fact that neither the adminstration, nor the PTA nor Scholastic themselves would respond to our query about percentages was our main cause for refusing to participate. There was no "set" percentage, but we do expect an answer when we ask.

 

[C.Ann]

Did you have a certain percentage in mind that the school would have to receive before you would buy the books? Like you would only purchase if the school received "x" amount? Why--didn't you see any intrinsic value in purchasing books for your daughter, encouraging her reading, etc.?
I guess I'm just one of those people that is always willing to buy books for my kids.

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I'm right there with you!! Too many new books out there and new information available to rely on old books as a sole reading source.. We also like to read favorites over and over again - or share them amongst ourselves - so trudging to the library is neither convenient nor practical..

If you're holding a book fair, you're definitely going to get a nice chunk of my money..

 

[Talking Hands]

HS I sub at sells bagels and pastelitos every morning before school and 1st block for money used for student activities. Every class sells class t-shirts and so do a lot of the organizations. Candy seems to be sold by every fine arts group in the school for one thing or the other. And then there are the added fees this year because of budget cuts. And things that the school used to provide like easels students now must provide.

 

[Pigeon]

Did you have a certain percentage in mind that the school would have to receive before you would buy the books? Like you would only purchase if the school received "x" amount? Why--didn't you see any intrinsic value in purchasing books for your daughter, encouraging her reading, etc.?
I guess I'm just one of those people that is always willing to buy books for my kids.

I love books. In fact, I'm a research librarian. So there's no anti-book agenda in my house.

We go to the public library at least once a week and come home with a huge tote bag full of books. While we have many books at home, I don't feel obligated to support Scholastic.

In fact, I'm starting to loathe Scholastic. Our book fair seems to have more plastic crap and posters than they do actual books. In addition, so many of the books are genuinely low quality--not the physical book, the content. Now, I don't care what my kids read, just so long as they are reading copiously and joyously. But the sort of tripe marketed by Scholastic isn't generally of any enduring value, and thus not worth my money.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I really thought the Yankee candle fundraiser would be a great idea! After all, who doesn't like Yankee candle and they make good gifts. Turned out it was the worst fundraiser we had in a long time and we went back to Genevieves. I know we are getting 50% back from them.

I love the book fairs! I love books and get DD books every year for Xmas. I figure I am going to buy them anyway, so part of the sale may as well go to the PTA!

 

[EthansMom]

You seem to miss the point that we have a problem with corporately run fundraisers at schools. The fact that neither the adminstration, nor the PTA nor Scholastic themselves would respond to our query about percentages was our main cause for refusing to participate. There was no "set" percentage, but we do expect an answer when we ask.

I understand what you're saying. Someone within the organization should be able and willing to provide you with info. regarding the profitability of a particular fundraiser.

I was PTO Treasurer last year and can tell you that, at our Scholastic Book Fair, we got a profit of 30% if we chose cash and 50% if we chose a credit towards Scholastic merchandise (books for the library, etc...).

Knowing what I learned last year regarding the profit/loss of some of our fundraisers, I decided to NOT participate in several of them this year and instead will send a check this winter.

I've been keeping a rough estimate of the amount of $$ that our PTO has gotten from me (whether by Box Tops, Scholastic Book Fair, membership dues, etc....) and, so far, I'm up to about $37.50. At our small school, however, the PTO needs about $300 per student to have enough funds to continue spending at their current levels next year.