Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | midnight
The beginning of school is one of the most popular times for fundraisers, especially this year, after the Clark County School District experienced state-mandated budget cuts over the summer.
Terri Monksfield, owner of Silver State Fundraising, visited Barbara and Hank Greenspun Junior High School Sept. 9 to talk to students about the school's fall fundraiser — selling cookie dough and magazines.
"It's truly more important than it's ever been, because the School District's funding has been cut," she told students at an assembly.
But Monksfield appealed to more than school spirit. She brought in a display table featuring several prizes students could win, including stuffed animals, an electronic device to help students get off the phone when their friends won't quit talking and an iPod with an iTunes gift card.
The 800 sixth and seventh graders who came to the assembly filed past the table, looking at the different prizes and talking excitedly with their friends.
Once the students filled one side of the gym's bleachers and lined up in several rows across the floor, Monksfield began her pitch. Students looked through catalogs they had just received, showing off goods they could sell and goods they could win.
"There's all this bling-bling over here that you can get," for selling, Assistant Principal Warren McKay said, motioning to the table bedecked in flashing lights. "That's right — bling-bling."
Depending on the fundraiser type and company each school chooses, they take a different portion of the proceeds. Monksfield said the schools she works with earn a minimum of 40 percent.
Students are encouraged to not travel door-to-door to raise funds, but are told to look to their family and friends for help. They were to turn in their orders Sept. 16, though a second turn-in date of Sept. 23 was also set.
"Have your parents take it to work. That's probably the best way," Monksfield said.
While the beginning of the year is one of the most popular times for fundraising, various clubs hold fundraisers throughout the year.
Contact the principal at your child's school for more information.
Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].
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