Fundraising at DC/Preschool

[shakinros]

DD's school (infant - PreK center, maybe 75 kids) is doing a St.Jude's "Trike a Thon" this week to learn about bike safety and raise money for St. Jude's.

We got a fundraising packet sometime last week. I lost it already or maybe threw it away. I don't really want my 4yo [read: me] to go around soliciting pledges for the Trike a Thon. Today her folder had a reminder with helpful tips like "go to this URL to set up a Facebook fundraising page!"

Am I off base in thinking this is weird for the 0-5yo set? I don't want to participate in this, but maybe I'm the only parent whose kid will not have a fundraising envelope to bring to school on Thursday.

And don't get me started on the actual Trike a Thon. The kids are all supposed to bring their bikes to school and parents are invited to come to school and cheer their child on.
A. DD doesn't have a bike. Or any other wheeled conveyance she can bring instead. I'm going to have to ask again tomorrow what the plan is for kids who don't have bikes.
B. The thing is at 3pm. Like all school events.

[saraml13]

May 15, 2017 20:06:35 GMT -5 shakinros said:

DD's school (infant - PreK center, maybe 75 kids) is doing a St.Jude's "Trike a Thon" this week to learn about bike safety and raise money for St. Jude's.

We got a fundraising packet sometime last week. I lost it already or maybe threw it away. I don't really want my 4yo [read: me] to go around soliciting pledges for the Trike a Thon. Today her folder had a reminder with helpful tips like "go to this URL to set up a Facebook fundraising page!"

Am I off base in thinking this is weird for the 0-5yo set? I don't want to participate in this, but maybe I'm the only parent whose kid will not have a fundraising envelope to bring to school on Thursday.

And don't get me started on the actual Trike a Thon. The kids are all supposed to bring their bikes to school and parents are invited to come to school and cheer their child on.
A. DD doesn't have a bike. Or any other wheeled conveyance she can bring instead. I'm going to have to ask again tomorrow what the plan is for kids who don't have bikes.
B. The thing is at 3pm. Like all school events.

Our daycare has done this each summer we've been there. They are pretty low key about it. They send home a little packet and maybe put up one reminder sign, but it's usually very casual. DS1 is only 2.5, so in the past he hasn't really been old enough to "get" it, or to really even trike. Maybe we are terrible, but we've just ignored it.

I agree that I eye roll this type of fundraising. I liked it when daycare did a food drive around the holidays, because DS1 really got into brining in a can of food each day. But in my mind the idea of a fundraiser like this is way too abstract for a preschooler to understand. And personally, I already have my own charities that I donate to and prefer to do that systematically instead of contributing to a bunch of random causes as they pop up.

[k3am]

I would sponsor my own kid per lap. I wouldn't ask friends or neighbors.

[sandandsea]

Our daycare does the trike a thin every year. We have always participated by sending in $20-50 of our own money. It's also tax deductible. Ds loves bikes and it's a big deal at the daycare and he loves it. They talk about bike safety, ride around school, etc. parents don't generally attend. It also provides us a good opportunity to teach about giving back and helping those in need.

[olenka]

Our DC does several fundraisers but not this one. They do a fall and a spring fest, mainly selling baked goods, hamburgers, and raffle tickets for donated prizes. They also do a scrip program with some local grocery stores and other businesses.

[mommyatty]

Our school does this, and we love it. But she's at a school that starts at preschool (age 3), so the kids all have a wheeled conveyance of some sort. Many in the preschool class have little scoot vehicles, trikes, or scooters. All we did was set up the website and post it to Facebook. A few people gave online. It was nbd, but DD was ridiculously excited about raising money to help kids who were sick. I thought it was a great lesson in philanthropy. And no, we didn't beg anyone for money in person or collect checks. It was all online.

[sdlaura]

Our preschool does lots of fundraisers, but they're to benefit the school organization itself, since my kids go to the YMCA preschool. They include a trike a thon which we have had to miss the past two years since we were busy that day. The Y gives scholarships to some kids to go to preschool and also for camps, swim lessons, etc., so I like supporting them. I agree with k3am though - I'd sponsor my kid but not ask others to do so.

[erinshelley21]

May 15, 2017 22:14:28 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Our school does this, and we love it. But she's at a school that starts at preschool (age 3), so the kids all have a wheeled conveyance of some sort. Many in the preschool class have little scoot vehicles, trikes, or scooters. All we did was set up the website and post it to Facebook. A few people gave online. It was nbd, but DD was ridiculously excited about raising money to help kids who were sick. I thought it was a great lesson in philanthropy. And no, we didn't beg anyone for money in person or collect checks. It was all online.

This is how I would handle it.

[Widget123]

We don't have anything like this at daycare. I like the idea of teaching philanthropy but I think 0-5 is still a little young and i think something like this might stress me out.

[twinmomma]

I'd probably donate myself and ask the grandparents and aunts and uncles and call it a day.

My kids would be all over it if we did something like that. Once a week in the summer they have "bike day" so the kids all bring their bikes or scooters for the day and they get to ride a bunch during outside time. It's always a hit.

[shakinros]

Day 1 update: I did like the safety coloring pages that came home in her folder today. Cute way to reinforce always wearing a helmet.

Like saraml13 we have other places we give money, and the food drives/sponsor a kid for the holidays are more my style at this age because of the concrete nature of the giving.

I asked this morning what the plan is for DD and other kids who may not have bikes. They don't have one. I'm going to have to ask again tomorrow because I'm concerned they're planning to just have her stand there and watch the other kids ride.

[somebabiesmom]

My first reaction would be identical to yours, shakinros, but I'd end up following DS's or DD's lead. If they were excited about it and seemed to kind of "get" the fundraising part, I'd help them do it. Then I'd just prepare myself for their next request which would inevitably be to set up a gofundme page for a new toy.

[welly01]

Our daycare does this fundraiser also. We bring a tricycle/bike to school and that's the extent of our involvement. DH is ridiculously opposed to school fundraising because of his own negative experiences growing up. I really wish our daycare would just increase tuition for how much money they need and quit with the stupid fundraisers. They do a fall and spring one that is just those catalogs of trinkets and snacks. Those go directly in the trash as soon as we get home.

[CoverGirl82]

When my kids were in preschool, they did the St. Jude's trike-a-thon. I'm sure we donated some money, but never asked friends or family. And setting up a Facebook page? No. That's ridiculous.

My kids' elementary school typically has one fundraiser at the beginning of the year. I think we've asked grandparents in the past to donate, but this current school year DH and I wrote a check for the amount needed so the kids got an ice cream treat and extra recess and called it good.

[2chatter]

With three kids in three schools I write a lot of checks. We truly participate in only those that directly benefit the child in question, to a max of two per year total. So the girls sell Girl Scout cookies, Middle sells pies for and activity and oldest sells cookies for orchestra. DS collects change for his. I never ever fundraise through social media; I don't know when DD will get social media or how I will let her use it.

I'm more for direct action too. In all things. Once a month two families provide meals for the teachers - last night DD and a friend baked the desserts because this is our month. It has more impact than parents just buying food.

We also do philanthropy through church and the kids engage in that - right now we are filling a Christmas backpack for a 13 year old boy.

On the wheeled vehicle - I have scored some fun things at Play It Again Sports or resale shops. For non bikers K and above check out the green machine or for younger radio flyer has some cool non bikes.

[mustardseed2007]

Our DC is a school that goes up to 6th grade and they do a couple fundraisers per year. Last year they sold tupperware for the first time. I just wrote a check b/c I do NOT need tupperware. I started a trend and a bunch of parents I talked to did the same thing. The fundraiser was for a specific piece of playground equipment and they did raise enough money to buy it.

They also sell poinsettias at christmas. I have bought some before for our house and but we've never sold any to relatives b/c I don't want to truck poinsettias all around town to distribute them.

I kind of wish they did a trike a thon just for the fact that doing a bike ride all together might make DS more interested in the very nice bike I bought him that he really doesn't want to ride.

[k3am]

Is there a reason your DD doesn't have a bike or anything she could use? Could you find one used for cheap? Not just for this, but in general, most kids really enjoy them and they're great for exercise.

[Deleted]

Our DC does the Trike A Thon and a couple of other fundraisers. We do not participate. We pay for daycare, give generously to teachers at Christmas and always provide items for the classroom when asked. We feel this is enough and certainly aren't going to friends or family members with a 1 yr old and 2 yr old.

[Deleted]

May 16, 2017 11:44:00 GMT -5 @becominggold said:

Our DC does the Trike A Thon and a couple of other fundraisers. We do not participate. We pay for daycare, give generously to teachers at Christmas and always provide items for the classroom when asked. We feel this is enough and certainly aren't going to friends or family members with a 1 yr old and 2 yr old.

ETA: If DS was still there next year when he is three we would have him do the Trike A Thon but make the donation ourself.

[shakinros]

May 16, 2017 11:18:48 GMT -5 k3am said:

Is there a reason your DD doesn't have a bike or anything she could use? Could you find one used for cheap? Not just for this, but in general, most kids really enjoy them and they're great for exercise.

She's getting one as a Pre-K graduation present in June. We've been working on it as a lesson in saving money for the things you want. Obv she's not paying for the whole thing but we had a whole chart and timeline worked out before we got the notice about Trike a Thon.

[k3am]

shakinros, that is my favorite way for DD to get new things, especially big ones. The sense of pride when they earn it is almost as awesome as what they earned.

If you guys were closer, I'd let her borrow ours for the day. Do you have any neighbors or friends with one she can borrow? I would hate for her to feel left out. Our DC has a bunch of bikes, so it's never really been a big deal here.

[xctsclrx]

shakinros, I would hate for her to feel left out. I know when I was in school and we did this the school provided all the bikes just so no one would feel left out. Especially if the parents couldn't afford one. My parents struggled to give me dinner everyday at that time. There was no way they could have gotten me a bike on short notice. Looking back I am grateful the school did that.

[shakinros]

May 17, 2017 8:13:17 GMT -5 xctsclrx said:

shakinros, I would hate for her to feel left out. I know when I was in school and we did this the school provided all the bikes just so no one would feel left out. Especially if the parents couldn't afford one. My parents struggled to give me dinner everyday at that time. There was no way they could have gotten me a bike on short notice. Looking back I am grateful the school did that.

This is what happened today! Her teacher magically arrived with a old-school radio flyer tricycle for DD to borrow tomorrow. There were many squeals of delight and hugs.

I'm glad your school could help too. That is a huge face-saver in a tough situation.

We didn't buy her a bike last year when she turned 4 because we really didn't have money for that during DH's unemployment. We could run out and buy one now but we had JUST laid out a "let's learn about saving money for a bike" plan. I don't want DD's first lesson in saving to be "haha, never mind. If the other kids have something, Mommy & Daddy will drop everything and get it for you too."