This thread was started by someone who sincerely wanted suggestions for fundraisers that fit within her school's wellness plan. Let's get back on track.

boo - your original request was:

Also...if anyone has any ideas for BIG money makers (since gift wrap and food sales via brochure--were 2 of our biggest money makers) please pass along. We've had many people suggest auction, but no one has volunteered to run one and we don't want to nickel and dime parents to death with many little fundraisers. All suggestions welcome!!

My last school was tremendously successful with a direct solicitation fundraiser. We merely sent out a letter outlining the following:

1. List of approved PTO projects and events.
2. Total cost of items
3. Average cost per child
4. Request for a donation equal to or greater than the average cost.
5. A guarantee that if the goal is met there would be no other fundraisers that year.

For three years running we have not only met but exceeded our goals. Parents came out in droves to thank us for ending the countless 'sale' fundraisers and responed by insuring the goal was met.

Good luck to you and your group. These new laws, interpretations and wellness plans have thrown all of us for a loop but we can work together to find solutions!

[ 09-03-2006, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: CrewChief ]

WOW! Some people are crazy and this proves it! Why do people think they have a right to say what I feed my children? Our school tried to stop children from eating peanut butter (some kids have bad reactions from this) however, when they sent out the letter stating we could no longer feed our children peanut sandwiches, I laughed. I called the principal and set up a meeting. When I asked her about it, she said they strongly recommend it, but can not make it manditory. That is not what their letter stated. You have a right to feed your child what ever you wish, but do not tell me what I can feed mine. That is my job and no one including the state will regulate me. We went through the law with a fine tooth comb. It states that the regulations are for schools and districts, but it does not say anything about non-profits that do business on school campus. We do not work for the school district, thats up to food services. The only thing we have to be carful of is selling products when food services is open. If they are closed, we can sell what ever we want. I would think with Arnold as our Gov. we would have the most strict guidelines, however the powers that be must have understood that if we can't raise the $25,000 a year neccessary to fund the Teachers supplies and fieldtrips it will be our students who suffer. This does not mean we stuff our kids full of crap. It means we do business as usual. All this talk of toxins is what is making me sick. Doesn't anyone have anything better to do than tell me what we can feed our own children? I wonder why people go off the deep end when all they need to do is bother thier own family with food regulations and let me worry about mine! By the way our biggest fundraiser of the school year is a walk-a-thon and we sell soda and cotton candy and BBQ chicken that mat not free range....

hey there, girlsluvtrux, the internet is truly amazing. i found a letter from the govt, informing the school districts about the 2004 law, if i come across the link again, will share it here.

anyway, you can always ask your principal when did they first learn of the law and why didnt they advise the parent group earlier, so you could research other fundraising options sooner, etc.

i dont get it, the slow speed of info trickle down to parents from admin. after all, its a LAW and not just a local policy.

A child of five would understand this (THREAD). Send someone to fetch a child of five. Groucho Marx

That's a wrap.
"The world would be boring if we were all the same."
-My mom

hey one last thought and i will bow out of this nutritional emotion here,,,,

here is a man you all should know and respect: Linus Pauling. He did some stuff in chemistry a while ago, something about electrons maybe i dont remember my chemistry i HATED it.

he also wrote later tomes about SUGAR. its worth a read. dont rememeber the title, but if you surf his name at the public library website, you will see that his belief is that white sugar is what ails our planet.

i dont say i agree, but i say his book on this is thought provoking and the man has some scientific credibility.