New Playground for the kids

[NinJaBob]

This is not a plea for money only ideas. I would just spend all your money on computer stuff and guitars and comic books anyway. [IMG]http://www.************.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

So the PTA at my sons school is putting together fundraisers to put in a new playground for the kids. The current one is old and out of date. It is also violating a ton of safety standards and was almost shut down by the safety inspectors this year. This is not being funded by tuition but solely by money raised by the PTA.

We have done a couple of fund raisers so far and have accepted some private donations. Now we are planning a dinner dance for this winter complete with a silent auction for these wonderful gift baskets and a 50/50 raffle. We are looking for money making ideas to either do at the dance or before or after. We think that we are on-track to do this over the summer so that it's ready by next fall.

If you have any fundraising ideas I would be happy to hear them. Since we are tied to a Catholic Church we are somwhat restricted to certain types of games. I don't know what types as Father has never spelled it out he either allows us to do it or not, basically on a whim.

We think that we'll make it we're just trying to be sure. Incidentally we are talking about a target upwards of $60,000 to $70,000.

[millerscow]

Ok. you've done the fundraisers. It's for a new playground which ya can't get w/out enough money so there's a time limit but not a big one as in ASAP.

Have valet parking at the dance for a small donation from the vehicle owner and use the older kids and younger adults as valets. (the ones with licenses anyways, ya know what i mean.)

Bake sales and such are always good.

You can also do pictures like what is done at proms. (mainly for any kids that may be showing up.)

You could get the kids to make art work to be sold at the dance or the auction, esp. the smaller kids since parents love that kind of stuff.

You can also get the bigger kids to do something like fall yardwork for people they know and the money could be donated--while making sure the people the yard work is being done for know the money is for a new playground. (they'll feel proud of themselves and more willing to let someone else do the workif they know is for a donation to a good cause. most are willing any ways to help with a good cause.)

Get the local news stations to put it in their calendar of events on their websites and to announce it during their weekly calendar events announcements that are done live. This would help "advertise" for the dance and get more people to come, meaning more money gets raised and it's should be free to atleast list it on the calendar of events.

Before I forget this:
OUr PTO and the whole town really loves is the Circus. (Everyone sells tickets/puts out flyers, etc. for advertisement. It means the parents don't have to run any booths like for carnivals, and they can be with their kids at the fundraiser/circus at the same time helping to raise money for the cause by going to the circus and no one misses out on something they wanted to see or do.) It's always a big hit.

[NinJaBob]

Thanks millerscow. We have done a couple of these like the bake sales and the yard work. The valet idea is a great one. I never thought of that. It would have to be done by volunteers as our school is only K-8 you wouldn't want our kids driving the cars.

Also I should have mentioned that this is an adult only event. It's being held at a fancy hall donated by a parishioner and there will be a cash bar. We will obtain some of the proceeds from the bar sales. There will be some gambling and booze and other things to get people to raise money. There a lot of well off people that go to our church that either have or have had kids go through the school that we will sell all of our tickets without a problem it's just getting them to let go of their money when they get there.

[millerscow]

lol
The older teenagers in some of the families would be great volunteers for the valet thing. ya know some of the school kids have older siblings that drive or some of their older cousins and close relatives.

[NinJaBob]

Originally Posted by millerscow

lol
The older teenagers in some of the families would be great volunteers for the valet thing. ya know some of the school kids have older siblings that drive or some of their older cousins and close relatives.

True