PTOs Focus on Books
PTOs focus on books to help others and raise funds.
With
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h Read Across America fresh in our memory, we wanted to share some stories of PTOs raising funds and doing good deeds, all with a focus on books.
In Sheridan, Wyoming, the Coffeen Elementary School PTO held a Bingo For Books event that raised about $200 for a local community group that is raising money for sick children. It cost $.50 to play each round of bingo. Winners got half the pot, plus they could pick out a book as part of their winnings. The PTO said all children who attended the event received a book as well.
Not designed as a big money-maker, the event was intended to bring the community together, help a local charity and “get books into kid’s hands,’’ said Angie Hillier, president of the PTO.
When the PTO at Ross Park Elementary School in Norton Shores, Michigan, heard about some neighboring schools having to shut their libraries because of budget cuts, they decided to help out. The Ross Park PTO collected about 1,500 gently used books and then delivered them to the students of nearby Edgewood Elementary School in Muskegon Heights. Edgewood hadn’t actually shut its library, but the book collection needed updating. The Edgewood children were delighted when the children from Ross Park arrived with the books. Some noted that the books in their library were “old and boring,’’ and they were thrilled to have new titles.
The PTO of Unionville High School in Kennett Square, Penn., just made $32,000 at its Annual PTO Used Book Sale. Funds will be used for various projects in the high school. This year, the PTO collected 80,000 books, which were set up in and sold from the gym. The group also did a late-in-the-day sale allowing patrons to stuff as many books as they could into one bag for a flat $8 charge. One of the PTO leaders said she thinks the sale went well this year in part because they advertised on www.booksalefinders.com.
In Sheridan, Wyoming, the Coffeen Elementary School PTO held a Bingo For Books event that raised about $200 for a local community group that is raising money for sick children. It cost $.50 to play each round of bingo. Winners got half the pot, plus they could pick out a book as part of their winnings. The PTO said all children who attended the event received a book as well.
Not designed as a big money-maker, the event was intended to bring the community together, help a local charity and “get books into kid’s hands,’’ said Angie Hillier, president of the PTO.
When the PTO at Ross Park Elementary School in Norton Shores, Michigan, heard about some neighboring schools having to shut their libraries because of budget cuts, they decided to help out. The Ross Park PTO collected about 1,500 gently used books and then delivered them to the students of nearby Edgewood Elementary School in Muskegon Heights. Edgewood hadn’t actually shut its library, but the book collection needed updating. The Edgewood children were delighted when the children from Ross Park arrived with the books. Some noted that the books in their library were “old and boring,’’ and they were thrilled to have new titles.
The PTO of Unionville High School in Kennett Square, Penn., just made $32,000 at its Annual PTO Used Book Sale. Funds will be used for various projects in the high school. This year, the PTO collected 80,000 books, which were set up in and sold from the gym. The group also did a late-in-the-day sale allowing patrons to stuff as many books as they could into one bag for a flat $8 charge. One of the PTO leaders said she thinks the sale went well this year in part because they advertised on www.booksalefinders.com.
