The fall is a wonderful time of year. When the leaves start to change colors and the mornings get colder, it means that our kids are well adjusted to the rigors of school and homework. It is a moment of calm before the start of the holiday seasons and school exams.

The fall also happens to be the best time for school fundraisers.

School fundraisers can do a lot of good. They bring the students and community together for a common cause. Fundraisers help kids to be more aware of the costs of the myriad services that the schools provide (or want to provide). Fundraisers also give local businesses and families the opportunity to support the education of the kids in their communities.

The middle school in my town recently held a jog-a-thon. All of the kids who participate in middle school sports were asked to get pledge money and jog for an hour. It was a great way for the students to improve their health and work towards a cause bigger than themselves. Because the school does not use district money to fund sports programs, 50 percent of the money raised was used to pay for uniforms, coaches and other sports needs.  The other 50 percent of the money raised (around $11,000 total) was donated to a school damaged by the hurricane, Colter Elementary School in Texas. This particular fundraiser taught the kids the importance of being physically fit, it gave them the opportunity to aid their school’s sports programs and taught them how to be charitable.

Two weeks later, my local elementary school held a walk-a-thon. I attended the PTO meetings to learn more about the purpose of the fundraiser. The goals were to use the funds to purchase a cafeteria projector, a new sound system and to hire outside artists to come to school assemblies and workshops.  I was happy to volunteer and participate with my kids as they ran for an hour around the track. It was a fun event with lots of parent volunteers. Although the fundraiser is not finished yet, they have already raised over $14,000. This fundraiser has a major impact on the kids at this school.

As I have participated and donated to my kids schools, I have often wondered why the schools seem to constantly be in need of money.

Did you know that nearly 50 percent of our tax dollars go towards education?  Here is a diagram breakdown of where our tax dollars are spent.

Are fundraisers the best way we can help our school’s budget? How do you get involved with your schools?