School fund-raisers: more than irritating
August 20, 2008
St. Charles County
by Kris Kolk
Dwindling supply of $8 wrapping paper and empty tubs of cookie dough got you down? Well, you’re in luck.
Fund-raising sales seminars are already replacing instruction time, and school’s been in session merely a week.
Sure, money is tight. That’s not news. But maybe it’s time to reconsider the approach. Neighbors and relatives are feeling the pinch of a tough economy, too.
Consider this: according to a Wall Street Journal article, schools and organizations receive 50% or less of money raised on fund-raisers. Girl Scout troops keep only 15% of their cookie sale money.
Have children become a free sales force for companies hawking their overpriced products? What a cost-saver for these companies!
Add to this, the lure of glittering prizes and a pizza party for the class selling the most, and you set up a good number of these sales-force-gradeschoolers to learn another hard lesson about the sales business. Disappointment.
Many conscientious students, who play by the rules and rarely get in trouble, feel they have not done what’s expected of them. They don’t understand how they could have disappointed their teachers and their school. And they really, really (really, really) wanted that inflatable frog, too! If only they’d met their quota. It’s heartbreaking.
One local sick and tired mother suggests simply asking for donations. This may seem crazy. No selling? No product offering? Why would anyone spend money, yet expect nothing in return?
Well, because people feel good about donating to worthwhile causes. It’s human nature, however, to resist being taken.
Just like that steaming local mother I spoke with, I think I will also opt out of the fund-raising swindle this year.
I refuse to purchase unnecessary junk for $50, of which the school keeps only $25.
Instead I will write a check for $50 (or more!), because I know that the school keeps the whole amount.
I feel inclined to get my purse.
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town