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Boosterthon Fun Run: Just Say "No!"
February 08, 2009 | 09:48 AM
Odds are pretty good that at some point in your life, you've been approached by a kid — probably a neighbor — who's selling something in an effort to raise money for a school or ahtletic program. Some of the things that these kids have been selling include really bad chocolate, overpriced sodas, and wrapping paper. (By all accounts, the wrapping paper is actually pretty nice, but it ain't cheap.)
I think it's bad enough that our schools are so underfunded that we have to turn our kids into door-to-door salesmen, but at least the buyers of these products are getting something in return for their money. Granted, it's overpriced, and it's usually not very good, but at least there's some exchange of value.
There's another type of school fundraising out there, though, and it's managed to remove completely the exchange of value concept from the process. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Boosterthon Fun Run.
The premise of the Boosterthon Fun Run is pretty simple. The school schedules a date for its "Fun Run," and on that date students from the school run (or walk) laps around a small, 1/16-mile track. The kids are supposed to get sponsors who will give them either a certain amount per lap or a flat donation.
The minimum suggested donation (a concept I always hated…if you're asking me for money, let me decide how much I can afford…don't make me feel like a scumbag because I can't or don't want to give that much) is a dollar per lap, and the maximum number of laps that kids are allowed to run is 35.
As a result, the school and the Boosterthon Fun Run organizers are thinking that, on average, each sponsor will pony up at least $35. That is an awful lot of money to ask for from one sponsor, especially given the current economic situation. (As I said, though, there is a flat donation option, so someone can always pledge as little as a buck, if that's what they want to do.)
Children are then awarded prizes based on how much money they raise for the Boosterthon Fun Run. These prizes range from something as little as a glow-in-the-dark wristband to a scooter or even an iPod. It goes without saying that you need to raise a whole lot of money to get the more expensive prizes.
I have two issues with this whole process. The first is that I do not like the idea of our kids having to raise money for their schools, even if they are actually selling a product and the customer gets something of value for their money.
As a parent, I do not think it's my child's responsibility to raise money for his school. If schools are so underfunded, then all of the energy that goes into these fundraisers might be better directed at trying to get the budget increased for education. Of course, that's for public schools; it doesn't apply for private schools. For private schools, though, it seems that the answer is to just raise tuition a little.
My second issue (and this is really the point of this article) is with the whole Boosterthon Fun Run concept, specifically in that there is zero exchange of value between the sponsor and the child. When you cut through all the noise, all the child is asking for is a straight donation to the school.
This is always a little awkward, too, because parents are very often friends with other parents who have their own fundraising issues to tackle. So, you ask your neighbor to kick in $20 to some school-related cause, and next month his kid is at your door asking you to buy $20 worth of popcorn.
We're all just basically trading dollars with each other. Enough!
Even worse, all of this becomes magnified when the school doing the fundraising is private.
My 5-year-old son just had a Boosterthon Fun Run at his private school, and I cringed at the thought of him asking friends and neighbors to sponsor this. You can use any words you want, but this is how it sounds when you ask people to sponsor a private school Boosterthon Fun Run:
"Hi, I'm having a Fun Run at my expensive, private school, and we're raising money so that we can afford things that are nicer than what we already have. My Mom and Dad spend $X,000 a year for me to go this place, but my school is having a hard time financially. Will you please give this private school some of your money, even though your own kids probably go to an underfunded public school?"
Blech!
As a parent, I simply felt like I'm asking my friends and neighbors to subsidize my tuition bill. I didn't want to do that!
Of course, you could always opt out of this whole process. No one is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to get sponsors. However, in the days that lead up to the Boosterthon Fun Run, there is a daily tally of which kids got how many sponsors, and there are prizes given each day for good performers. So, there's just a little bit of peer pressure here…
To summarize:
I do not think that schools should ask their students to raise money for the school.
If students are going to raise money for their school, there should be an exchange of value. The sponsor has to get something for his money.
If there's no exchange of value, the fundraiser is wholly inappropriate for private schools. There is no "cause" here for sponsors to embrace.
That's pretty much it. I will say this, though.
The company that managed the event for the school (Duluth, Ga.-based Booster Enterprises) did an outstanding job. They had employees on the school site in advance of the event to talk to the kids and hand out materials, and they did pass on some very positive messages to the children. The event itself was also very high-energy, and the kids — and even the parents — had a great time. Our son had a blast, and he was very proud of himself for completing all 35 laps.
I may not agree with the philosophy behind the event, but I have no complaints about the company that managed it.
AlpharettaPapa
Reader Comments
These are our reader's opinions and thoughts.The opinions on this site are posted by our readers, and are not edited by Appen Inc.
Boosterthon is the best fund-raiser out there!
November 03, 2009 | 11:25 AM
I have had the privilege of working with the Boosterthon team and getting to know several of their employees and have never met such a wonderful, hard-working, honest, enthusiastic and fun group of men! Their hearts are in it for the students and they just happen to be good at raising money for the schools as well. Compared to other fund-raising companies, they have one of the lowest, if not THE lowest percentage for profit, especially considering how much they put into the program itself. Ask any kid who has participated in a FunRun and listen to their response before you make up your mind about this incredible company!
Jodye, Orlando, FL
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time to have fun
October 27, 2009 | 05:29 PM
this boosterthon sounds pretty fun but i also think the guys are funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ariel s weller, mobile
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Fine Idea, but...
May 13, 2009 | 09:24 AM
I'm about to go to my son's Boosterthon and other than having to stand in the zillion degree heat and watch him (and his asthma) run in the zillion degree heat (we live in Florida), I'd take this over selling chocolate bars any day. But I agree with everyone who has said that it puts the parents and kids in a horrible position in the present economy. In normal times, I'd have lots of people to ask, but half the people I know are unemployed or afraid of becoming unemployed. (We're unemployed, too, but it's our son and his school, so we're forking over our mandatory $35.00 so he can get a wristband.) I can't even imagine asking any of my friends to give money to my son's school right now. I know the schools are struggling, but my friends who have kids at other schools are all having the same problem.
Back in the good old 90's, when I had a job, I would have just taken the thing to work and my co-workers would have pledged a dollar a mile, and I'd do the same for their kids, and we'd all joke about how we should just all pass a $20.00 bill around in a circle. But that was then and this is now.
I don't know what the answer is, but we need to come up with something that addresses reality.
Karen Walker, Orlando
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May 03, 2009 | 09:24 PM
I am in absolute agreement with this editorial. My son's school is holding their Fun Run this week and my husband is infuriated about the whole concept of our child being a salesman for the school and bugging friends and family to donate with nothing to receive in return. There is no mention in the shiny brochure what percentage of the funds collected actually go to the school. We are at the end of the school year and have already been "hit up" for money umpteen times. When his "homework" one day last week was to solicit new pledges, that is when they turned the corner and lost me. Making the kids feel left out if they don't have tons of pledges is just not right. My son said "I feel like I'm not supporting my school if I don't participate". . That is when I said I have already made a donation to the PTA, bought the yearbook, bought the school t-shirt, donated to the teacher's and staff holiday fund, bought wrapping paper, baked for the fall festival, donated snacks during CRCT and on and on. Oh, and don't forget that I'm classroom Mom which means endless amounts of work (even though I enjoy it). Additionally, each October I also write a very hefty check for property tax which mainly goes to the schools. Next fall I will have two children at the school which means twice the expense on one very modest salary. Oh yeah, two kids to explain to....
Jen, Marietta
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April 27, 2009 | 09:29 AM
Julie, I think you should take it upon yourself to put together a Fun Run for your school. Good Luck!
Renee, Roswell
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Boosterthon keeps 48% to 50% of your kid's money
April 02, 2009 | 08:48 PM
Yes... that wasn't mentioned. Boosterthon uses your kids and keeps almost 50% of their take. Why do schools have to outsource their fundraiser? If they did the Fun Run internally.... 100% profit (minus expenses). Now that's a good idea!
Julie, Johns Creek
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Do we choose more socialism or do we teach our kids responsibili
March 02, 2009 | 11:21 AM
It may seem simple for some to say just raise school taxes, which by the way is the majority of our property tax, but is more socialism for our schools. I strongly encourage the practice of fund raisers as this teaches the kids the responsibility of working for what they want. It you will look at what these fundraiser provide money for it is not the necessities of learning but those extras that help motivate to higher learning or simply enjoyment.
Tom, Johns Creek
Nothing wrong with helping a school raise money, just
March 01, 2009 | 09:12 PM
do not these fundraisers go to a kid's head and parents do not do his work for him. Selling candy and wrapping paper is fine as long as:
He doesn't pester the same neighbors to buy everything. Circulate to non neighbors.
The parents do not help him. Sure, buy one candy bar, but that is it.
Selling can help a kid's ego. If he sells everything by himself, he can feel proud of his accomplishment. It also promotes independence.
The problem starts when parents get the orders for him. Just like parents that do a kid's school projects and homework for him. I have seen this and it amazes me that parents don't realize that they are setting their kids up for failure later in life. Let the kid sell one lousy candy bar and let him get an F. At least they are learning that if they don't do something, no one is going to do it for them.
LB, Johns Creek
Pick one - higher taxes or fundraising?
February 28, 2009 | 03:09 PM
I don't disagree with your point completely - children should not be put in the position to raise money for their schools. But times are tight and fundraising in schools isn't a new thing. I remember selling candy, gosh awful candles, and wrapping paper when I was in school eons ago.
However, with budget cuts hitting schools so hard that districts are considering not repairing copy machines in schools or not buying toner for printers, something has to be done to help fund our children's education. So which do you prefer - higher taxes - a.k.a. the 'government' handling the problem - or some innovative ways to get the private sector and familes to make up the deficit?
If you're expecting great things from this so called stimulus package, you have a long wait. Meanwhile, we do have schools in this area and all over metro Altanta who are tightening up and it will ultimately affect our kids negatively - or at least their test scores and you know how government types get all bent out of shape about lowered test scores.
A Fun Run that encourages fitness over hawking candy bars, popcorn, or wrapping paper sounds like a dream to me. And way better than increasing my taxes right now because our schools are only going to get funded by one of those two things. Take your pick! I'll take the Fun Run - we're having ours at the end of the month!!
Mindy Newton, Marietta
February 11, 2009 | 11:14 AM
I agree wholeheartedly. And what REALLY grips me is that the kids are psyched up because if they raise $50 or whatever the going rate, is they will be the lucky recipients of a plastic wristband and a glow in the dark bouncy ball that I will be retrieving at some point from down the dogs throat. I also think it is unfair for those with more than one kid in school. I ended up ponying up three times as much as those with one kid just so that they could all have the stupid bouncy ball........
I say they should save money on all the flashy advertising ( I am pretty sure those glossy flyers are not cheap), save money on useless 'incentives' and just ask for a straight donation per family for whatever the cause is.
FLB, Alpharetta
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