It's Not Just About Money

Los Angeles, CA - Anticipating a rise in enrollment in their small private school, North Hills parents raised $1.2 million through grants, donations, traditional product sales and garage sales to build an all new school campus with nine classrooms, faculty offices and shower complex. According to the school's principal, "I think [parents] feel that it's very much their school since they put in so much effort."

Dayton, OH - Special education students at an elementary school in Riverside, OH, donated $1,100 to the Dayton Children's Medical Center. They raised the money themselves through a series of fundraising projects including a two-day product sale. Students shared responsibility for taking orders, counting money, labeling and delivering the product to the classrooms. The fundraising project was developed by the teachers to help the students improve life skills, stay on-task and build self-esteem.

Long Beach, CA - Middle school students involved in the Caring Club and Alternative School with Purpose use money raised through a holiday product sale to pay for weekly transportation to a Long Beach retirement home. There the students exchange stories about life as a teen, then and now, with 60 elderly residents. The field trips have shown kids how it feels to help others, while senior citizens have the opportunity to share advice. "I think its fine they come here to talk with me. I tell them to stay in school," said one 87-year-old resident.

Salt Lake City, UT - A fifth-grader raised $700 as her part in building a new playground for her schoolyard. As a reward for her hard work, the student cut the ribbon before hundreds of cheering classmates. Students and parents at the Salt Lake City elementary school, collected cereal boxtops, held traditional product sales and participated in paper drives. Some even broke into their own piggy banks for extra funds to meet the $15,000 goal. According to one parent, "Our students learned that when we come together as a community, anything can be accomplished."



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This article is from the Fall 1998 issue of the Fundraising Edge, an online publication of the Association of Fund Raisers and Direct Sellers and is reprinted with permission. Visit their web site at http://www.afrds.org/ for more information and a look at the complete issues of the Fundraising Edge.