Boosterthon Fun-Run Fundraiser - NOT a fan

[Anonymous]

I didn't like the sound of it to begin with, and I was turned off by the pep rally... but after Googling "fun run boosterthon" I am seeing forums full of complaints about this program! What a disaster. I know, I know: I should be on the PTA if I don't want them to choose something like this, but how would I have known, since other fundraisers have been just fine? I wish this high-pressured, sales-based, gimme-gimme-prizes wasn't being forced on our kids!!

[Anonymous]

I just said the same thing this morning. Hate the idea. Opting out completely.

[Anonymous]

I do not like that the kids were basically given a little telemarketing script! Lay off children, already, do not use them for this kind of aggressive sales thing.

[Anonymous]

Wrong forum. Try schools.

[Anonymous]

Hate the Boosterthon, but I believe our school raised in excess of $25,000 that day, and we are a smaller, middle-income school.

It was definitely our most successful fundraiser ever.

[Anonymous]

It is a FCPS I am referring to in the OP so if it should be moved to VA Schools forum, fine.

Excessive money can't be compared to the hard-sell thing our kids are being exposed to every single day, as well as the materialism involved, and cheap, crappy "prizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just said the same thing this morning. Hate the idea. Opting out completely.

Us too. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

We just finished the boosterthon at my Montgomery county school and I agree with you, I think it's a gross way to raise money. All my kids cared about was how many crappy prizes they got to bring home any given day and the whole thing just reeks. My family is new to the neighborhood/school and I have not been involved in the PTA at all so I didn't know the details of how this was going to work but I am going to be very vocal when it comes to deciding on whether to do it again.

[Anonymous]

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say i am a "fan" but our school raised a TON of money, had lots of participation, and negated the need to sell other crap through the year (candles, etc.) It's only 2 weeks out of the year and then done.

For the kids, they had a great time.

I don't see that it's that big of a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say i am a "fan" but our school raised a TON of money, had lots of participation, and negated the need to sell other crap through the year (candles, etc.) It's only 2 weeks out of the year and then done.

For the kids, they had a great time.

I don't see that it's that big of a deal.

Take a closer look at the values it is pushing. Money is the all-powerful motivator, isn't it? Why are parents and others needing to be depended on so much to fund the schools with THAT much money? Look at the mess the gov't got into by spending beyond their means. Without cutting teaching positions, there are other things that can be cut. Class trips don't have to be so lavish. Parties don't have to be so lavish. One fun "dance" a year should suffice, if at all.

We are so spoiled we're willing to pimp our kids out to be salespeople, and teach them to clamor for junky "prizes" and allow the high-pressure salesteam from Boosterthon to be in their classes every day, pushing "sell sell sell!!!"

Yeah, not that big a deal.

[Anonymous]

Our school is scheduled to do it shortly and I agree - in theory I'm not a fan. I only put "in theory" because our school hasn't done it yet so I don't have first hand experience.

But it does raise a lot of money. You don't want your school to do any more Boosterthons? Fine - but make sure you give a nice donation to the PTA. If more people made generous donations (above the $15 PTA membership fee) would PTAs even need to hold Boosterthons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say i am a "fan" but our school raised a TON of money, had lots of participation, and negated the need to sell other crap through the year (candles, etc.) It's only 2 weeks out of the year and then done.

For the kids, they had a great time.

I don't see that it's that big of a deal.

How much money??? I heard the boosterthon company takes a HUGE cut (like 48%). I guess the school still has enough left over to declare it a successful fundraiser, but that is a lot of money NOT going to the school (yet still leaving my wallet).

[Anonymous]

Boosterthon does take 48%. Lovely -- We're funding a private company. Or should I say our kids are becoming little salespeople (with a script!!! They give them a freakin' sales script; look at your kids' paperwork they bring home) for a private company.

Do the PTA people actually research this stuff? It is easy to do a search and see just how much negativity there is out there on Boosterthon. Of course, the forums are full of Boosterthon employees pumping up the company in response to the negative posts. No fundraiser should be controversial; that should have been the PTA's first clue.

[Anonymous]

The PTA parents support it so much b/c it does bring in more money which helps their agenda. I get it the PTA holds school events and all, but they in my opinion waste a lot of that money on supplies for random things at the school. I hate how the kids beg for prizes and are bribed to get more pledges with promises of no homework and helping homeless families.

I thought it was really distasteful. I explained to my kids that we were just donating money and didn't need the prizes to help people. I think they got it.

[Anonymous]

Hey kids!! Tell all the grown-ups you know to give money to your school and we'll give you this cheap plastic toy!

Hey kids!! Those of you who couldn't bring in pledges today are not as good as those who could!!

Hey kids!! Put away those school books! We're having another Sales Pep Rally!!

Hey kids!! We're keeping almost half of the money the grown-ups thought they were giving to the school!!