Time To Say So Long for Now, Mother Funders
After weeks of melodrama, Mother Funders, Bravo TV’s reality show about a PTO, wrapped up its final episode last night with a muted good-bye.
In the end, the biggest worry that many folks had—that the show would paint hard-working parent groups in a bad light—didn’t seem to come true. As the show progressed through its eight-week run, it became so over-the-top that we have to believe most viewers understood it was entertainment and not at all the story of a real PTO. (Unless you know of PTO presidents who have not one but two makeup assistants on hand before a big fundraising event!)
The two big drama points of the show—would someone be elected new PTO president and would the group hit its $100,000 fundraising goal—seemed to simply peter out. Despite tremendous tension about who would replace Carla, the strong-willed president, we learned last night, through a series of still photos and “where are they now” comments in the last minutes of the show, that none of the board members would continue with this PTO. And after a constant drumbeat about the group’s plan to raise $100,000, it appeared the group brought in less than half that amount.
But as is the case with many “reality” shows, the real life story didn’t exactly match what appeared on TV. As we reported weeks ago, the real PTO that the show was based on was disbanded by the school district shortly after Mother Funders first aired because of the negative publicity the show stirred up. As for the group’s fundraising goal, it was never clear how much money they were bringing in, and some of the amounts raised seemed odd. For instance, a sparsely attended mother-daughter tea supposedly brought in $5,000, but the season finale black-tie gala brought in only $4,000.
The show provided a mixed bag when it came to portraying parent volunteers. Here are some final thoughts:
Focusing on fundraising. When it comes to raising money, the show provided a lesson in what not to do. It actually showcased a lot of fun activities, like the pumpkin decorating party earlier in the season, that would have been much better as strictly community-building events. Instead, the group worked at making money at every turn. Do the opposite of that! Find ways to get people together to develop a community feel at your school and focus on a few key fundraisers.
Conflict on the board. Most parent groups have some conflict. But the Mother Funders crew brought it to an absurd level. It went from mildly entertaining to irritating. (The final Carla-Robyn showdown involved tears, cursing, and cigarettes. What else can you say?) So, if you are having a problem with a fellow board member, check out our article on dealing with difficult people. That will help a lot more than taking any cue from rivals Carla and Robyn.
Kids are what matters. Here, the group shined. When you could ignore the drama, you could catch moments of sincere commitment to the kids. Even Carla, portrayed as an iron-fisted president, had many warm moments with the kids. If Mother Funders helped in some small way to spread the word on why PTOs and PTAs are important, then that’s one positive, at least.
Multitasking parents. While the family scenes often appeared too staged, the show did portray parents juggling many responsibilities, including the PTO. That’s real life. Whether it was tantrums, bad grades, or hesitation about leaving kids alone for an evening, the family issues were relatable. Hopefully, those moments sparked an interest in volunteering among viewers. So if the show gives some parents the willingness to get involved, then that’s an accomplishment, too.
