Anonymous wrote:This link provides information that may be useful to those parents and educators trying to convince schools they should not permit organizations like Boosterthon around their children: http://fundraisingaps.wordpress.com/

In my children's school, Boosterthon created a hostile environment that directly bullied the kids and created competitions that led to bullying behavior among the children. Yes, it made the school a lot of money, but at what cost? So many children came home in tears for two weeks because Boosterthon threatened to humiliate those that lost the pledge competitions. The information in the link above helped us convince our school to never let Boosterthon back again. Hopefully, it helps other parents wanting to rid their kids of the toxic environment created by Boosterthon.

Good luck!

If this is true, your school has an administration and school culture problem.

Boosterthon is the least of your troubles.

Boosterthon is in our FCPS right now, and I can't wait until they're out of it, and take their rah-rah hard sell and indoctrination with them. Thanks a lot, PTA!!!

I just read on another forum that Boosterthon includes a stipulation in their contract that 48% of any funds received by the PTA within months of the fundraiser must be given to Boosterthon. So, even funds contributed by parents that give directly to the PTA go, in part, to Boosterthon. Is that true?

I contributed directly to the school and would be upset to learn Boosterthon received 48% of that money.

I loathe Boosterthon for all the reasons already stated. And hearing the kids parrot the hard-sell talk is creepy in a doubleplusungood way. We pledge a minimum token amount to save our kids' feelings.

I don't participate in any of the glossy sell-useless-overpriced-crap fundraisers that my kids' various schools and activity groups take part in. Sorry, but I'm not going to harass family or friends for the profit of these companies. I'd rather give money directly to the school or activity group.

I sincerely hope that is true. Sadly, in my school district, there were several reported cases of it (I spoke with our state DOE Ombudsman). Perhaps it is just a few Boosterthon staff members using those tactics, but my understanding is that they are trained to use those aggressive tactics at "Boosterthon University." Basically, they say things like "if the girls win the pledge competition, the boys will be required to wear dresses to school." While, of course, that would never happen, younger children don't realize that. Couple this with the fact that the children are led to believe the Boosterthon staff are legitimate educators (via their "lessons") and you have a bad situation on your hands.

It can't hurt to talk to your kids about it, to ensure similar tactics aren't being used in your school. It took the parents at my children's school two years to figure it all out.

Anonymous wrote:This link provides information that may be useful to those parents and educators trying to convince schools they should not permit organizations like Boosterthon around their children: http://fundraisingaps.wordpress.com/

In my children's school, Boosterthon created a hostile environment that directly bullied the kids and created competitions that led to bullying behavior among the children. Yes, it made the school a lot of money, but at what cost? So many children came home in tears for two weeks because Boosterthon threatened to humiliate those that lost the pledge competitions. The information in the link above helped us convince our school to never let Boosterthon back again. Hopefully, it helps other parents wanting to rid their kids of the toxic environment created by Boosterthon.

Good luck!

I'm not sure what school your child is at, PP. I have a kid at Haycock and while I didn't love Boosterthon, I can't say there was any bullying. We donated very little and my child was not upset and didn't mention anyone bullying her about it.

This link provides information that may be useful to those parents and educators trying to convince schools they should not permit organizations like Boosterthon around their children: http://fundraisingaps.wordpress.com/

In my children's school, Boosterthon created a hostile environment that directly bullied the kids and created competitions that led to bullying behavior among the children. Yes, it made the school a lot of money, but at what cost? So many children came home in tears for two weeks because Boosterthon threatened to humiliate those that lost the pledge competitions. The information in the link above helped us convince our school to never let Boosterthon back again. Hopefully, it helps other parents wanting to rid their kids of the toxic environment created by Boosterthon.

Good luck!

It does seem a bit greedy in approach, but the percentage take compared to Reader Digest isn't terrible.

Anonymous wrote:Fun event, but my son wanted a real 5K. The pressure to raise money was constant. They even put it on his weekly homework page. We received emails almost daily from the administration/teachers asking us to get pledges.

I posted right before you about how my kid's school raised about $30K with the boosterthon.

We just ignored all the requests. I donated a blanket total, no more or no less than I would have for any other big school fundraiser.

We didn't bother any of our relatives. They all live in other states, where the economic situation is very, very different from the exceptional wealth of this area. Their schools are starving for revenue, not for things like putting in a fancy track at an elementary school or buying enough ipads that every kid has one to use in the classroom. Instead, their schools are trying to find enough money to pay for basic services, textbooks, minimal teaching, etc.

It just seems like such a waste and in fact a bit greedy to bother family across the country from communities that are hurting, just to indulge our fcps kids who are in a district that has so much.

I explained that reasoning to my kid (on a kid level) and he understood completely and just enjoyed the event for the event itself.

Fun event, but my son wanted a real 5K. The pressure to raise money was constant. They even put it on his weekly homework page. We received emails almost daily from the administration/teachers asking us to get pledges.

Anonymous wrote:Was it a fun event? Did the kids enjoy it? Thinking about doing it at our school but have heard mixed reviews. We would love to raise even a fraction of that amount.

My kids school did one, and they had a blast. My kid loved the event and was so excited for it.

I believe they raised around $30K, not sure if that was before or after expenses.

My child said it was kind of fun. There was a lot of pressure to get pledges, but the rewards were relatively clever (extra recess, etc.) although many were plastic junk toys, which is to be expected. I was a doubter and am still somewhat ambivalent, but they did raise a lot of money.

Was it a fun event? Did the kids enjoy it? Thinking about doing it at our school but have heard mixed reviews. We would love to raise even a fraction of that amount.

Awesome!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, but going back to 7:51's post, what is the net profit for the school? Will Boosterathon take 40% plus the $2K set up out of the quoted $50K? Or is all of the $50K going to Haycock?

The principal said the pledged profit was $51. I am quite certain that is what the school gets after the company's cut.

Wow! So the money turned in was $85K? That's incredible.