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Offline formerlurker

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Any PTO/PTA members here?
« on: January 04, 2009, 11:32:13 AM »
I need ideas for a really good spring fundraiser for my twins' preschool.   Have you had successful ones that you can share?  We did Yankee candle in the Fall, which is a good money maker -- we need something similar for the Spring.   

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can throw my way. 
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Offline asdf2231

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2009, 04:27:00 PM »
Bikini Carwash?
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Offline Chris

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2009, 04:30:57 PM »
Quote from: asdf2231 on January 04, 2009, 04:27:00 PM
Bikini Carwash?

I'll buy that for a dollar.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2009, 05:22:04 PM »
Quote from: formerlurker on January 04, 2009, 11:32:13 AM
I need ideas for a really good spring fundraiser for my twins' preschool.   Have you had successful ones that you can share?  We did Yankee candle in the Fall, which is a good money maker -- we need something similar for the Spring.   

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can throw my way. 

My wife (when she isn't catching 1-ton pick-up trucks in her teeth, that is) is the treasurer for our son's Pre-school PTO.  These are a couple of things that they do there.

They have an agreement with the local Chuck E. Cheese's that on one night every couple of months or so (usually a week-night, light business night anyway) they bring in the kids from the Pre-school, and Chuck E. Cheese will split the proceeds 50/50.  The kids for which they have to split with will be identified by a sticker they'll be wearing (given to them at school earlier).

We have similar arrangements with the local parks and rec department to do pool parties with the young 'uns at the local swimming pool a couple of times a year (kiddie wading area).

Also, it's something we do more in the Christmas holiday season, but there is always Square 1 Art.  This is a company that'll take a 8x8 square hand print/finger painting you kid does, and scans it in, then prints it onto items suitable for gift giving to family.  Everything from refrigerator magnets to pot holders to ceramic tile coasters; I've got a chef's apron with my son's handprint art printed on it.  They do this specifically as a fundraiser for schools, and return a check for a percentage of the total proceeds shortly after all the orders are delivered.

Hope these help.
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Offline Zeus

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2009, 05:45:10 PM »
A spring fundraiser. hmmm. I'm sure a group of fertile minds could put their heads together planting seeds of thought growth and the Ideas will sprout flowering out. It's not like they are all a bunch of vegetables or fruits.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2009, 05:52:38 PM »
Quote from: Zeus on January 04, 2009, 05:45:10 PM
A spring fundraiser. hmmm. I'm sure a group of fertile minds could put their heads together planting seeds of thought growth and the Ideas will sprout flowering out. It's not like they are all a bunch of vegetables or fruits.

That's so 1950's.......might work if they turn into Chinese plastic replicas.
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Offline formerlurker

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2009, 06:18:58 PM »
Quote from: DefiantSix on January 04, 2009, 05:22:04 PM
My wife (when she isn't catching 1-ton pick-up trucks in her teeth, that is) is the treasurer for our son's Pre-school PTO.  These are a couple of things that they do there.

They have an agreement with the local Chuck E. Cheese's that on one night every couple of months or so (usually a week-night, light business night anyway) they bring in the kids from the Pre-school, and Chuck E. Cheese will split the proceeds 50/50.  The kids for which they have to split with will be identified by a sticker they'll be wearing (given to them at school earlier).

We have similar arrangements with the local parks and rec department to do pool parties with the young 'uns at the local swimming pool a couple of times a year (kiddie wading area).

Also, it's something we do more in the Christmas holiday season, but there is always Square 1 Art.  This is a company that'll take a 8x8 square hand print/finger painting you kid does, and scans it in, then prints it onto items suitable for gift giving to family.  Everything from refrigerator magnets to pot holders to ceramic tile coasters; I've got a chef's apron with my son's handprint art printed on it.  They do this specifically as a fundraiser for schools, and return a check for a percentage of the total proceeds shortly after all the orders are delivered.

Hope these help.

Awesome ideas!!!  We do the Square 1 Art for Mother's Day (it isn't a big money maker for us).     I didn't know that ChuckECheese would do that, cool.  I am good friends with my town's recreation director so I will ask her about the pool. 

Thanks again!

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Offline formerlurker

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2009, 06:20:04 PM »
Quote from: asdf2231 on January 04, 2009, 04:27:00 PM
Bikini Carwash?

I think the girl scout moms have that one taken already.   :-)
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Offline Chris

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2009, 06:22:33 PM »
Quote from: formerlurker on January 04, 2009, 06:20:04 PM
I think the girl scout moms have that one taken already.   :-)

Mmmm, Girl Scout Moms.  :)

My miniscule, unimportant advice... find something parents like/want and do that.  I have no idea what that is... cheap dish towels?  maid service?  I'm not a parent, so I don't know what you guys deal with. 

Candles are nice.  Everyone likes candles.  I have some awesome recipes for quiche that nearly drove me into doing it for a living.
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Offline debk

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2009, 07:33:09 PM »
I was on the PTA board of my kids' elementary school for years....(yes, Thor, it was a long time ago... :hammer:)

We had a spring festival....

Silent auction.....all kinds of stuff donated....from trips (weekend, long weekend to week at mountain cabins or condos at the beach), gift certificates from restaurants, cleaners, movie theatres, etc, gift baskets that people would make or get from a store, some jewelry stores may give something small, Chucky Cheese, Pizza Hut.

Even do resales on toys, books, DVD's, video games. Trash and treasure booth....donated neat stuff....ya know..."one man's trash is another's treasure".

Rented a small merry-go-round, I think the local dairy had one, charged for rides. Have a dunking booth with the principal, someone doing balloon animals and selling them. Games...think carnival.

Turned the cafeteria into an eating area (duh) for hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, drinks and something simple for dessert, cookies or brownies.

Bake sale(make sure it's from parents you know).....someone doing kettle corn and funnel cakes.

Try to get everything donated, that's the way to make the most money. We also priced things cheap, on the theory that some money was better than none. If priced to expensive, you can't get people to part with their money. Make sure to have prepared tax receipts to give donors. Give the donor a blank form, and let them fill in the amount they are donating....then it's between them and the IRS.

I have done PTA, City Ballet, Symphony and Junior League fundraisers over the last 20+ years.....I know how to do fundraisers.  :-)
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Offline asdf2231

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2009, 08:03:36 PM »
Get a local gun range to sponser a Fun Shoot.  Our range in town raised over 2 grand for the food pantry here this year.

Plus it would drive the Moonbat parents up the wall. :-)
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2009, 08:13:23 PM »
Silent auction/dinner combinations usually do well.

Especially if you can get some cool things to bid on, both small and large..

I know a local meat locker that donated a processed whole hog...all kinds of people were bidding on it...

I know of one PTA, that their biggest fundraiser of the year was a book fair.

« Last Edit: January 04, 2009, 08:14:54 PM by RobJohnson »
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Offline Zeus

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2009, 08:27:59 PM »
Quote from: JohnnyReb on January 04, 2009, 05:52:38 PM
That's so 1950's.......might work if they turn into Chinese plastic replicas.

Drive down any residential street you choose. I bet you will see more yards with flowers & plants in the yard than not.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2009, 10:37:13 PM »
Why would any conservative parent be a willing member of the PTA?

 :fuelfire:
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2009, 03:46:43 AM »
Quote from: Zeus on January 04, 2009, 08:27:59 PM
Drive down any residential street you choose. I bet you will see more yards with flowers & plants in the yard than not.

True, but around here they'll mostly be transplants from greenhouses done by the lawncare crew......but when I was a kid (1950's), the seeds went well because not only were there flowers in the front yard but also a garden in the backyard. Not so anymore.

Oh, the memories. I thought I was going to be a millionaire. I was making a fortune (to a to a 10 year old kid anyway) going up and down the road plowing garden spots in the springtime.....Man, have things changed.
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“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline formerlurker

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2009, 08:37:18 AM »
Quote from: asdf2231 on January 04, 2009, 08:03:36 PM
Get a local gun range to sponser a Fun Shoot.  Our range in town raised over 2 grand for the food pantry here this year.

Plus it would drive the Moonbat parents up the wall. :-)

You do know I live in MA right?    I think I would be run out of town if I even suggested it. 
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Offline formerlurker

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2009, 08:40:10 AM »
Quote from: debk on January 04, 2009, 07:33:09 PM
I was on the PTA board of my kids' elementary school for years....(yes, Thor, it was a long time ago... :hammer:)

We had a spring festival....

Silent auction.....all kinds of stuff donated....from trips (weekend, long weekend to week at mountain cabins or condos at the beach), gift certificates from restaurants, cleaners, movie theatres, etc, gift baskets that people would make or get from a store, some jewelry stores may give something small, Chucky Cheese, Pizza Hut.

Even do resales on toys, books, DVD's, video games. Trash and treasure booth....donated neat stuff....ya know..."one man's trash is another's treasure".

Rented a small merry-go-round, I think the local dairy had one, charged for rides. Have a dunking booth with the principal, someone doing balloon animals and selling them. Games...think carnival.

Turned the cafeteria into an eating area (duh) for hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, drinks and something simple for dessert, cookies or brownies.

Bake sale(make sure it's from parents you know).....someone doing kettle corn and funnel cakes.

Try to get everything donated, that's the way to make the most money. We also priced things cheap, on the theory that some money was better than none. If priced to expensive, you can't get people to part with their money. Make sure to have prepared tax receipts to give donors. Give the donor a blank form, and let them fill in the amount they are donating....then it's between them and the IRS.

I have done PTA, City Ballet, Symphony and Junior League fundraisers over the last 20+ years.....I know how to do fundraisers.  :-)


This is amazing!   I will print it out for next year when my twins are in Kindergarten and are in an elementary school.    Thanks for sharing this info!
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Offline formerlurker

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2009, 08:41:25 AM »
Quote from: rich_t on January 04, 2009, 10:37:13 PM
Why would any conservative parent be a willing member of the PTA?

 :fuelfire:

Heavily involved in my children's schools and plan to always be involved.   
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2009, 09:40:35 AM »
Quote from: formerlurker on January 05, 2009, 08:41:25 AM
Heavily involved in my children's schools and plan to always be involved.   

Because when an old coot like me shows up at the school with fire in his eyes and a stern look on his face, the liberal teachers/administrators run like cockroaches right after the lights have been turned on. If a grownup shows up and questions their politics and liberal agenda, be it ever so slightly, they start backtracking and shaking in their boots..... :rotf:

....and like Frank says about "liberals lie, they always lie", well they all wear lace panties too.
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“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline debk

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #19 on: January 05, 2009, 01:48:47 PM »
Quote from: formerlurker on January 05, 2009, 08:41:25 AM
Heavily involved in my children's schools and plan to always be involved.   

I was with, both my kids, from kindergarten through middle school. It's always a good thing to be known by your first name with the secretaries and principals.  :-)
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Just hand over the chocolate...back away slowly...far away....and you won't get hurt....

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." – Dave Barry

A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands.

Offline rich_t

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #20 on: January 05, 2009, 05:47:38 PM »
Quote from: formerlurker on January 05, 2009, 08:41:25 AM
Heavily involved in my children's schools and plan to always be involved.   

Good deal.  I wish more parents would take a larger interest in their kid's schools.  I wasn't a member of the PTA but I was as involved as much as I could be under my circumstances (called and spoke to teachers, principles concerning the kids etc.)

I hope you know I was teasing with that 1st comment.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Any PTO/PTA members here?
« Reply #21 on: January 05, 2009, 08:57:29 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on January 04, 2009, 10:37:13 PM
Why would any conservative parent be a willing member of the PTA?

 :fuelfire:

Well, how 'bout because we're not the "odd folks" on our PTO, and the teachers we've got - at least in this school - are pretty conservative as well.  Haven't run into too many liberal activist teachers, here in the heart of Galt's Gultch.  I don't think they'd last long - either in the hiring process or in the school "trenches" at large around here if'n the little marxists showed up.
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