Bad News: The Fundraising

Never Ends for Parents

I talked our PTA president into doing a one-time donation at the beginning of the year option. They figured out how much would actually be raised per student from the various fundrasiers, and sent a note home to the parents saying "if every family donates X amount at the beginning of the year, we won't have to do any fundraising at all." Or something along those lines. I'd prefer to write one check, take the full tax deduction, and not have to be bothered with all the nitpicky buy-this-junk-you-don't -need stuff throughout the year.

You are right! It never ends! The amount of raffle tickets I purchase for everyone of their activities. I'm bound to win sometime - right?

You are so right. It never ends. I like the opt-out choice. When my kids were young we had the option of paying or working one of many Bingo nights as one solution.

But I also like the idea of kids working for what they want. I think car washes and collecting items (bottles, cans, boxtops...) is the best. Selling door to door teaches a form of begging, not a work ethic.

I now have grandkids and I refuse most of the sales unless they have something I would like. I do participate in things that I can share with the kids, like the children's Santa Shopping at school.

As PTO fundraiser chair I totally hear ya! Don't laugh. It was either that or president and my son is only in the 1st grade. We're older parents (I'm almost 44; Hubby 48) with only 1 child who is 6. I've been supporting my friends' kids for years. When Charlie started Kindergarten last year I sent out an email to all my friends saying essentially - Hey, I've bought crap from your kids for the past 10+ years, it is now your time to pony up the ante. Just kidding. Sorta.

I've started a Fundraising Opt Out program at our school this year. It is doing quite well along with the traditional product fundraisers. I've also started some non-traditional fundraising that does not require selling along with pushing what I call EZ Money. Stuff like recycling juice pouches and ink jet cartridges, Box Tops, etc. that makes money, granted in smaller amounts, but without the hassle of selling crap.

So far I've managed to refuse to participate. I suspect that will be harder as the kids get older. But when they sell food we cannot eat (hello multiple food allergies) or is just plain crap, I refuse to be a part of that. Instead, I make a cash donation and have done with it. The HS choir director has a day where the kids literally go door to door and just ask for money instead of selling stuff you don't want anyway. I told him he was brilliant and I will readily encourage my kids to join choir. lol

However, if you come to my door and you are under 18, I will give you money. No matter what. If I can't buy it, I just make a donation. Or I buy it and give it to someone else. I have even called the company of whatever is being sold while the kid was there to find out if I could eat it. I figure if your kid is willing to schlep door to door, I'm willing to pony the money. Because honestly it sucks as a kid to have to fund raise.

My daughter has been competition cheerleader through her middle school for 2 years. Upon entering her 3rd year we were told that the law changed and the school cannot require paid participation - now ALL the money for ALL expenses must be earned through fundraising. Since April I've worked 3 outdoor concerts where I was either sweating in a hot kitchen making pizzas or pouring beer. I've made a bazillion cake pops (badly), organized and hosted a large yard sale, organized and hosted TWO beer tasting/BBQ events (my husband is a home-brewer), organized and collected books for a sale and am now waiting to hear if we've been accepted to a very large local flea market to get rid of the 500+ remaining books. Oh...and selling See's candy. And shopping nights...and dinner nights...and the school pestering for THEIR sports booster, which doesn't support the cheerleaders, and the PTA and the Arts boosters and the friends doing breast cancer walks and marathons to support leukemia research and...and...and....I haven't even gotten to wrapping paper and such yet. I haven't seen it...I wonder if we still do it or if my kids just stopped showing it to me.

My son is now in robotics and I'm bracing myself and researching what it would cost to move the entire family to a deserted tropical island.

Great post, thanks!!!

p.s. What color beemer did you get? ;-)

OK if you buy the BMW, that's going just a little TOO far!