Boosterthon Runs at MCPS schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school did Boosterthon a few years ago. We did raise tons of money but also got the backlash from the parents.

It doesn't bother me that 48% goes back to the company. That does seem in the ballpark with these fundraising companies. Look at Girl Scouts - do people buying the $4 box of cookies realize that only ~ $.70 actually goes to the troop and the rest to the Council?

It would be great if parents took it upon themselves to organize a school fun run and have all the money raised stay in the school. But unless your school has those type of parent volunteers, they will have to outsource the organization/work behind the fun runs.

I think there's a meaningful difference between

-$0.70 goes to the Girl Scout troop and $3.30 goes to the Girl Scout Council

and

-50% goes to the school and 50% goes to a for-profit company

+1

And you get a box of cookies to eat which would cost $$ at the store. Same with wrapping paper, candles, totes, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:27 - then go organize a fun run. You are probably one of those people that loves to complain and bash the PTA, but actually does nothing to help a school. I loathe you, 10:27.

How would I have been at the meeting if I wasn't on a committee? I am on several by the way and have been on the board and fundraising in a previous years. There is no way previous boards would have agreed to this. This was already a done deal by a smaller committee when presented and as soon as parents started speaking out against it saying they rather just write a check to the school or run a smaller school run, the volunteers (who do most of the work to help this for-profit company to make thousands) got extremely upset and said this won't work or make money unless we are all in this together and really push the kids together. They already spent a few thousand dollars to "retain" them and all the kids need to buy the t-shirts for $3.

But yes, go ahead and flame me and not the Boosterthon company. I guess I should be like everyone else and sit back and write a check so my son can have a t-shirt and win some plastic prizes. Would that make you feel better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try a buy nothing fundraiser..just send a check.

This! It has worked really well at our FOCUS school the past few years. Make sure it's publicized well - signs/flyers/website, etc. Make it easy for people to donate. Set up a 'goal' sign or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a buy nothing fundraiser..just send a check.

This! It has worked really well at our FOCUS school the past few years. Make sure it's publicized well - signs/flyers/website, etc. Make it easy for people to donate. Set up a 'goal' sign or something.

+1

We did this last year after we got rid of our Boosterthon right in the beginning of the school year and made $22,000 direct to the school. It can be done. Especially if you promise no sales or fundraisers for the rest of the year.

Sadly it was our principal who wanted the Boosterthon more than anymore. They make you claim a need to increase sales and she had a premade list of more items for the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:27 - then go organize a fun run. You are probably one of those people that loves to complain and bash the PTA, but actually does nothing to help a school. I loathe you, 10:27.

How would I have been at the meeting if I wasn't on a committee? I am on several by the way and have been on the board and fundraising in a previous years. There is no way previous boards would have agreed to this. This was already a done deal by a smaller committee when presented and as soon as parents started speaking out against it saying they rather just write a check to the school or run a smaller school run, the volunteers (who do most of the work to help this for-profit company to make thousands) got extremely upset and said this won't work or make money unless we are all in this together and really push the kids together. They already spent a few thousand dollars to "retain" them and all the kids need to buy the t-shirts for $3.

But yes, go ahead and flame me and not the Boosterthon company. I guess I should be like everyone else and sit back and write a check so my son can have a t-shirt and win some plastic prizes. Would that make you feel better?

Why do the kids need to buy the t-shirts? I guess the company can't afford it? I am with you. It was horrible at our school as there were whispers of what was really going on and it really put a lot of distrust in the PTA.

[Anonymous]

12:04, you are a miserable person. Don't participate in Boosterthon, hold back your donation out of spite and make your principled stand. Will that make you feel better?

[Anonymous]

Boosterthon works on a sliding scale. The less you raise, the bigger the cut they take.

They disrupt classes every day for a week and a half. They read the names of the kids who got pledges each day and have them stand up to be recognized. Imagine how that makes the kids who can't raise money feel. We had kids who were asking not to go to school because they didn't want to be publicly embarrassed again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school did Boosterthon a few years ago. We did raise tons of money but also got the backlash from the parents.

It doesn't bother me that 48% goes back to the company. That does seem in the ballpark with these fundraising companies. Look at Girl Scouts - do people buying the $4 box of cookies realize that only ~ $.70 actually goes to the troop and the rest to the Council?

It would be great if parents took it upon themselves to organize a school fun run and have all the money raised stay in the school. But unless your school has those type of parent volunteers, they will have to outsource the organization/work behind the fun runs.

I think there's a meaningful difference between

-$0.70 goes to the Girl Scout troop and $3.30 goes to the Girl Scout Council

and

-50% goes to the school and 50% goes to a for-profit company

+1


And you get a box of cookies to eat which would cost $$ at the store. Same with wrapping paper, candles, totes, etc...

You can find similar cookies at the store for less money and you can definitely get quality wrapping paper for less money too at the store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:04, you are a miserable person. Don't participate in Boosterthon, hold back your donation out of spite and make your principled stand. Will that make you feel better?

I am not 12:04, but the following would make me feel better:

1. don't participate in Boosterthon
2. don't donate to the Boosterthon campaign
3. make a principled stand
4. write a check that goes DIRECTLY to the PTA (which, in contrast to the Boosterthon money, will get 100% of it)

How do you feel about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You can find similar cookies at the store for less money and you can definitely get quality wrapping paper for less money too at the store.

Yes, of course. And I don't like the cookie or wrapping paper campaigns either. But at least when you buy cookies or wrapping paper, at least you get cookies or wrapping paper for your whatever percent that doesn't go to the PTA. When you donate to Boosterthon, what do you get for your 50% that doesn't go to the PTA?

I'm not the PP you were responding to.

[Anonymous]

That works for me, 16:23, because money still goes to the school, which is the goal at the end of the day. You sound like a true community hero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try a buy nothing fundraiser..just send a check.

T hiss what we have at our moco ES. We are no Somerset, but I think we raised 30k this year.

[Anonymous]

Raised 450K at Somerset with "buy nothing" - easy peezy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boosterthon works on a sliding scale. The less you raise, the bigger the cut they take.

They disrupt classes every day for a week and a half. They read the names of the kids who got pledges each day and have them stand up to be recognized. Imagine how that makes the kids who can't raise money feel. We had kids who were asking not to go to school because they didn't want to be publicly embarrassed again.

Please tell me they don't really do this????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That works for me, 16:23, because money still goes to the school, which is the goal at the end of the day. You sound like a true community hero.

You sound like someone who works for Boosterthon who doesn't like the bad publicity and responds with immature sarcasm in the hopes of demeaning others who are looking out for the best interest of their schools instead of filling your pockets.