Our school here in Ohio just did an AVON fundraiser and raised $3500 in 3 weeks. We are taking the kids to the Columbus Zoo. You might try something like that with the lady we used, here is her info...
We are a Pre-K-8th grade catholic school with 145 students. Every year our 8th grade class goes on a class trip, this year they are going to Boston for 3 days. Trips in the past have been to Hershey and Gettysburg also to Bush Gardens and Williamsville. They try to make the trip educational as well as fun. The Home School Association gives them $1000 towards their trip and they as a class fundraise the rest of the money they need. They do this by having out of uniform days, where for a certain month every tuesday each child pays .50 cents to be able to dress down, bake sales, car washes, raffles and fundraising products. The kids may get started fundraising when they are still in 7th grade or they may start at the beginning of 8th grade. It's something the younger kids look forward to doing when they are in 8th grade.
My daughter's school goes to the Toledo Zoo on the last full day of school. They encourage parents to come and the school gets the group rate or if you have a Toledo Zoo membership, you can give them the number. Our school is the last elementary school to get out in our district so we get school district buses or families can drive themselves. Last year was my 1st year and I got to use my zoo membership and had an exciting school bus ride! I think it's $6.00 per person.
The last Friday of the school year the PTO sponsors Field Day. They do games and rent inflatable slides and games for the playground. Last year it rained, but they did it in the school and everyone still had a great time. The PTO budgets $2000 and provides all the food. This is what our school does.
I don't know about taking children to Cedar Point, there could be some concerns there.
We do go on end of the year field trips but we don't do it that way. We as a PTO do not pay for the trip--only the gas. The parents pay for the trip but it is easy to do because we set up a payment plan. Say you are going to (Whereever)and a ticket cost $xxx.xx to buy then we would divide the cost so that parents can pay on it every two weeks and it is not a whopping sum at the begining of the trip. We also have our school lunchroom pack our breakfast and lunch(most are free and the kids pay ahead of time if nessasary) with the children bringing money to eat dinner and some spending money.Hope this helps.
Wow! I'm a little surprised that you would spend $5,000 on an event like that. It sounds like great fun and I know all schools spend differently but our PTO would probably vote to spend $5,000 on something educational for the school as opposed to a a fun"event" for the kids...so, no, we've never done anything like that (but have fun if you get to go!). I'm still trying to get a handle on spending PTO funds. I wish we had better guidelines but, alas, we don't...
Shelly
We do an end of year field day and also have a picnic lunch for all the kids. We stay at the school and it still runs us about $3000. But, we budgeted for it last summer so we know the expense is coming. I know it would be to late in the year to raise $5000 in the next few months.
