If you get aid do you attend fundraisers?

[Anonymous]

Thanks OP, as I've always had the same question, but was afraid to ask.

We get 40% aid and would enjoy attending these events, but just assumed it would be a bad look spending $300 pp on tickets, given our FA status. Also, if it sells out, didn't want to think that we might be taking a seat away from a couple that might actually be able to bid on the auction items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is at least one family at our school on financial aid who attends fundraisers but does not donate despite having a second home. Which of course raises the question of why they are getting aid in the first place? One would think they would give something but I guess they figure paying for tickets is their contribution.

How do you know they are on FA?

+1
you seem to know a lot about this family.

[Anonymous]

We get significant aid >75%. We get one comped ticket and one ticket we purchase. We also try to bid on an item we can afford ($50ish). We also try to donate about $100-$250 per year with a company match.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is at least one family at our school on financial aid who attends fundraisers but does not donate despite having a second home. Which of course raises the question of why they are getting aid in the first place? One would think they would give something but I guess they figure paying for tickets is their contribution.

This sounds like people need to mind their own business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP, as I've always had the same question, but was afraid to ask.

We get 40% aid and would enjoy attending these events, but just assumed it would be a bad look spending $300 pp on tickets, given our FA status. Also, if it sells out, didn't want to think that we might be taking a seat away from a couple that might actually be able to bid on the auction items.

I don't think it would look bad. And do these ever really sell out? (I know our schools' events would have never sold out).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is at least one family at our school on financial aid who attends fundraisers but does not donate despite having a second home. Which of course raises the question of why they are getting aid in the first place? One would think they would give something but I guess they figure paying for tickets is their contribution.

How do you know they are on FA?

+1
you seem to know a lot about this family.

One parent discusses it openly

[Anonymous]

We receive about 8-10% in FA at one school (kids are in 2 different schools) and go some time. We have been 3 years out of 5 so far and will not go this year. I don’t particularly like these events, but I like to spend time with my friends there. We never bid on anything.

[Anonymous]

We receive a lot of aid. I don’t go because I am an introvert and wouldn’t enjoy myself. If you would enjoy it, I see no reason not to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP, as I've always had the same question, but was afraid to ask.

We get 40% aid and would enjoy attending these events, but just assumed it would be a bad look spending $300 pp on tickets, given our FA status. Also, if it sells out, didn't want to think that we might be taking a seat away from a couple that might actually be able to bid on the auction items.

If you would enjoy attending, I think you should go!! There's no expectation to bid on anything at these events. I have no concept of who's on FA and who's not, so other parents wouldn't bat an eye. Admin who do know you're on FA would surely appreciate your support by attending. I guarantee no one is thinking "how dare they take FA if they could afford this ticket??"

Our auction did eventually sell out, but people had plenty of notice so no one was "taking" a ticket away from anyone else. The big donors who know they want to spend money bidding outlandishly aren't the latecomer ticket purchasers.

[Anonymous]

lol you could go and hand out thank-you notes

[Anonymous]

Growing up I was very much not on aid and my parents never attended the school dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up I was very much not on aid and my parents never attended the school dinner.

Not to nitpick, but "very much not on aid" is a really weird way to describe yourself, at any age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol you could go and hand out thank-you notes

Hah, right? That’s what my mother suggested, too

[Anonymous]

I don't attend the gala because I don't want to, but I donate the cost of tickets. I try to attend the more casual events but the dates often conflict with other things we're doing, and I work during the day so I don't go to the PTA stuff. In hindsight I regret not volunteering as room parent because that would have been within my abilities and would have shown interest.

I do feel weird receiving aid and also donating, but I only donate a few hundred dollars a year and we receive much more than that in aid so I guess it's not a big contradiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP, as I've always had the same question, but was afraid to ask.

We get 40% aid and would enjoy attending these events, but just assumed it would be a bad look spending $300 pp on tickets, given our FA status. Also, if it sells out, didn't want to think that we might be taking a seat away from a couple that might actually be able to bid on the auction items.

You should go. It is supposed to be a community event. Some schools do a better job stressing the community aspect.

Other schools just keep publicly acknowledging the one big sponsor of the evening which is so classless and makes everyone want to skip it next year. Gee so I guess my donation is not worthy of being mentioned?