Even though the amount of money flowing into schools today seems higher than ever, we know it hasn’t always been that way and it won’t continue to be that way forever. For most schools, fundraisers are instrumental to bringing in financial support for some of the most amazing projects that schools implement. Many of us rely on our PTO groups to help organize and operate those fundraisers. Throughout my fifteen years in education, I have seen many different types of fundraisers, most of which involved selling stuff. I have seen students sell cookie dough, pizza kits, magazines, socks … you name it, a school somewhere has probably tried to sell it. I’ve even heard people tell us, “Please take my money, so I don’t have to buy stuff I don’t need.” Are you sick of organizing fundraisers to sell stuff?
Is it time to rethink fundraisers?
History
That is exactly what East Grand Rapids Middle School did about five years ago. In order to revitalize a dead magazine fundraiser which only raised about $6,500 per year, then-principal Anthony Morey developed the EGRMS Regatta, an epic student cardboard boat race!
Students spend a week doing STEM activities around boat building in their classes, which culminates in a big event where student-sized boats are built and transported to a local lake to race against each other! Students work together with one of their classes to design cardboard boats that can hold at least two rowers. There are awards for design (best-in-show) as well as performance and speed. Teachers use this activity to develop team-building skills, including collaboration and communication. While this event does take major planning, our PTO group has been instrumental in finding volunteers and funding supplies for this event.
The Regatta has become our one and only PTO Fundraiser and brings in an astounding $35,000 - $40,000 of support annually, which in turn is poured directly into our classrooms. While any donations are accepted, our PTO builds sponsorship levels ranging between $250 and $2,500 that individuals and corporations can commit to for community-wide recognition. Sponsors are recognized on t-shirts, a banner that hangs outside the school yearlong, social media, and pennants that hang inside the school.
Aside from being a fundraiser, the Regatta is a community event. Hundreds of parents and community members come down to the lake every year to cheer on our students. The winning class in each grade receives the coveted golden paddle, which rotates to a new winning class each school year - think of the Stanley Cup.
Pandemic - Regatta Reimagined
As we started planning for the 2020-2021 school year and examining all the ways that school was going to look different due to the pandemic, our team engaged in conversations around whether or not we could continue to hold the annual Regatta. We recognized the value of this event, not only from a financial standpoint (which became vitally important that year more than others), but also as a community-building activity (which, arguably, was also more important that year than others).
Due to social distancing and our school implementing a hybrid learning schedule, we were unable to hold the traditional Regatta at the lake. However, we altered the event to involve each core academic area.
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Social Studies: Instead of building a large cardboard boat that students could ride in, each student designed and built a miniature cardboard boat for the best-in-show competition.
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Math: Teachers taught lessons on nets and surface area prior to boat construction.
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Science: Students built boats based on their math lessons that they tested for durability in a small tub of water while taking on weights.
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English: Students wrote a short essay about the topic “What does community mean to you?” and colored a boat picture, which were displayed around the school.
Even without the epic race at the lake, our PTO still brought in nearly $40,000!
Thankfully, for the 2021-2022 school year, we were back at the lake racing the cardboard boats!
This event has not only filled the financial need for our PTO to support school-related activities, but has also become the highlight of the school year for our students and staff. No more door to door sales of stuff that most people don’t want anyway. As you think about ways to bring in the needed funds for your school, I challenge you to think about a community building event that can double as a fundraiser for your school!
Jeff Dykhouse, [Association/school] MASSP Board of Directors Member