Anyone's PTA do Boosterthon Fundraiser?

[Anonymous]

Anyone's school done the Boosterthon fundraiser? If so, what did you think of it?

[Anonymous]

Here's a whole thread about it at Haycock ES in FCPS. Sounds a bit intense.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/309071.page#3615911

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it soon gets to be all about Haycock! But there were some nuggets in there!

[Anonymous]

The school did end up raising a ton of money (more than they would have otherwise). I'm troubled by the percentage the fundraiser took, but I can see why the school chose to do it.

[Anonymous]

The school raised over $50,000

[Anonymous]

The company takes 50%? That is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The company takes 50%? That is crazy.

The company appears to do quite a bit of work, as opposed to things like cookie dough sales where they take 50% and do absolutely nothing.

[Anonymous]

Quite frankly, I don't think the company does that much work. Parents could do the same thing, but I think a lot of parents are burned out on fundraising. Also, You'd need some good parent salespeople to teach the kids the high pressure sales tactics that Boosterthon uses. I hate Boosterthon, but I will admit it raised a lot more money at our school than a parent fundraiser would have.

[Anonymous]

So how much instruction time is taken away? Are there assemblies that the kids have to attend? If so, how many and how long do they last?

[Anonymous]

DD's school did it and there is good and bad to it.

Pro- it raised A LOT of money.

Cons- Teachers didn't have a voice in this being brought to the school and it uses a lot of instructional time. The kids are brought to the gym during class time for a pep rally. I think it lasted for at least 40 minutes. I would rather have had DD doing other things- not listening to a 40 minute brain washing session.

Each day for ten days Booster Bob came in to each class to dance, sing songs and deliver prizes to the kids who raised the most money. Fun for the kids who got prizes but for the kids without money it felt like a public shaming. Every day for ten days this happens. "Great job Susie! You raised the most money of everyone in your class! You get this wonderful frisbee! If the rest of you raise money maybe you can get this super awesome frisbee too!"

I would rather write a check straight to the school but EVERY day DD came home excited about the next day's prize. so I caved. I'm sure it will come back to the school this year because it raised so much money.

On the last day the kids run an obstacle course and raise a certain amount of money per lap. It was rainy that day and they did it in the gym- so there wasn't one child who didn't reach the maximum number of laps. Nice profit.

They use a focus on exercise to sell it but it's ten days of hard core sales tactics before there's even a hint of physical fitness.

[Anonymous]

Our school did it a couple of years ago. It raised a lot of money for the school, but I don't agree with some of the tactics and would prefer for the school not to do it again.

[Anonymous]

They always do the run in the gym. They want the laps to be short!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They always do the run in the gym. They want the laps to be short!

The kids were supposed to run outside at DD's school. It was postponed twice because of rain and then they just put in in the gym because of scheduling issues.

[Anonymous]

Our school did it, and I didn't like it. I don't like any fundraisers that award prizes to the kids for getting more and more donations. I don't like the wrapping paper fundraiser either. That stuff is so overpriced. And who needs reversible wrapping paper?!? I buy my wrapping paper at the dollar store, and then just write a check to the school for a donation.

My favorite system is the one done at my other son's school. They just ask for a flat-out donation of $75 at the beginning of the school year. It includesPTA membership, a car magnet, and admission to a few PTA-sponsored events. Then we are never bothered the rest of the year to give money. I especially like this system because I know 100% of what I give goes to the school.

The only fundraiser I've ever participated in is the Dining for Dollars. Might as well-- we've got to eat! But generally, I prefer to just give directly to the school or PTA.

[Anonymous]

My school did it. We raised a ton of money but there was a lot of backlash because the boostersthon people apparently prescribe to very conservative philopshpies and give mony to those views.