27J parent groups creatively support schools

    BRIGHTON — When money is tight, people tend to get a little more creative. That is just what is going on in many Brighton 27J School District PTO groups that introduced families to new rewards programs through local grocery stores that make it possible for schools to receive some extra cash.
    The Kroger Co. instigated a gift card fundraising program that has helped schools, churches and organizations raise money to go towards their operating costs.

Photo by Emily Dougherty

Southeast Elementary PTO president Kelli Phelps uses a King Soopers gift card Friday to pay for her groceries. Through the store’s school fundraising program, 5 percent of Phelps’ purchase that day went to Southeast Elementary. Phelps and other PTO members throughout the 27J school district are trying to spread the word about easy fundraising opportunities like this.

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    How does it work?
    Do regular shopping at King Soopers. When you get up to the register, tell the clerk how much you want to put on the gift card.
    Schools and PTOs often purchase a large number of gift cards and give them out to parents. When money is spent on the gift cards, 5 percent of the total of each purchase goes back to the designated school.
    The money spent in store by the gift card users is tracked, and totals are sent to the organization every month. Once the total reaches $5,000, The Kroger Co. sends a check.
    Kelli Phelps, PTO president at Southeast Elementary, believes this is the future of school fundraising. The school started the King Soopers gift card fundraiser last January by purchasing around 250 gift cards with between $2.50 and $5 preloaded. Parents could pick up their gift cards at Southeast’s office or at a PTO meeting and start putting their purchases toward the school.
    “It’s the easiest way to do it,” Phelps said. “It’s free money.”
    At Southeast, money raised through the King Soopers gift cards goes towards purchasing upgrades and new technology for the elementary school. Some of the funds have already been used to pay for new wiring and projectors for classrooms.
    “Everybody that has children knows how hard up school districts are. If you have a King Soopers card already, this one already has five bucks on it,” Phelps said. “You can load as much money as you want on it.”
    The best thing about these fundraising options is that it doesn’t require families purchasing unnecessary items, such as in a ButterBraid fundraiser where people spend $12 on a loaf of bread, Phelps said.
    “Use it at the Starbucks at King Soopers. If you get your gas there, 5 percent of your purchase of gas goes towards the schools,” she said.
    Another benefit is that anyone can name a school as a beneficiary. Phelps said some of her friends and family who don’t have children or whose kids are grown up signed up to have a percentage of their purchases go towards a local school.
    “It’s new for us. But it’s had a huge impact so far. I think the learning curve has just started for us,” Phelps said. “We’ve had more than $3,000 come in, and people are just now starting to remember to use it and to remember to load it.”
    Besides the King Soopers gift cards, Target has its own program, called Take Charge of Education that helps out schools and organizations.
    To enroll in the Take Charge of Education program, users must apply for a Target REDcard, which can include a Target credit card, debit card or Target Visa credit card.
    After approval, people can designate a school of choice by going online at www.target.com/tcoe. Program participants can change their school beneficiary at anytime.
    For cardholders enrolled in the program, Target donates 1 percent of all Target Visa credit card and Target credit card purchases made in store or online and 1 percent of all Target debit card purchases made in store. In addition, Target donates 0.5 percent of all Target purchases made outside of Target.
    Target sends checks to each school’s principal once a year during September. The decision on how to spend the funds is up to the principal. There are no restrictions on how schools use their funds, and there are no limits on the amount of money each school can receive.
    According to Phelps, people don’t realize that these fundraising opportunities and others, such as Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup labels, actually make a difference. An extra $1,000 to go towards art supplies or P.E. equipment can never hurt.
    Many 27J schools and PTOs participate in these programs. Contact the schools for more information.

Contact Emily Dougherty at edougherty@metrowestnewspapers.com or 303-659-2522, ext. 223.