Trace Academy Middle School Pasta Fundraising Group
One of our favorite things at Fun Pasta Fundraising is helping groups to achieve their fundraising goals. We’ve learned with every group, there is a story behind the fundraiser. It’s the story and the people that we love most. It keeps us using our noodles to continuously raise the Fundraising bar to improve our fundraising products and the process. Schools are one of our largest fundraising groups so we were delighted when Janet Richards from Trace Academy Middle School agreed to let us interview her.
Meet Janet Richards and her family.
Tell us about your group? How many members? How long have you been together?
Trace Academy is in Orlando, FL and was founded in 1996. It is a very small Christian school with only 90 children from Kindergarten through 8th grade.
How long have you worked with us?
This was my first time working with Fun Pasta Fundraising but I have worked with other fundraisers in the past. I don’t remember how I heard about Fun Pasta Fundraising but I may have seen it on Facebook. I watched a video and was intrigued. I thought, “These are real people” that I’d like to do business with. I noticed right away how warm and personal you were.
What were you raising funds for? What was your fundraising goal?
We were raising funds for the 7th and 8th grade field trip to Washington, DC. We are a small school. Most of our families are made up of moms who stay at home and dads who are in ministry. The school tuition alone requires a tremendous sacrifice so the DC trip is a big expense at around $800/child for airfare, hotel and food.
How did you advertise and market your fundraiser?
We mentioned the fundraiser on our Facebook page. Parents took the brochure to their offices and to church. Kids went door to door. Most of our advertising was by word of mouth. We had both catalog and online sales however the majority of our sales were via catalog.
Is there something our readers would be surprised to know about your group?
Well we are one of only three private schools in the US that are run solely by the parents. Trace Academy is a parent involved school, which allows each family to contribute to their child’s education.
Tell us why you are such a passionate supporter of you group and of this fundraiser?
It’s just so much fun. We share the gift of music for the sheer love of it. We’ve performed at a local High School. I think it’s good for the kids to see that if you start with your music you can continue through any age and can do it for your whole life.
Of all the products in our catalog, which did your group sell the most? What were they the most excited about?
The collegiate pastas were big sellers here because we were selling in the Fall and people are tailgating. The pastas sold well because Christmas was coming and they make great gifts.
Is there are new product in our 2014 catalog that you’re excited about?
On the Run Pasta and Support our Troops Pasta
If you could tell another leader to do one thing to help their fundraising efforts, what would it be?
Where to start? I feel like I had a lot of opportunities to improve on this fundraiser. It was my first time so there are things I would do differently. One thing I would tell other leaders to do is to be careful when choosing the date. First figure out what date you want people to receive the pasta and then work backwards from that date to determine your start date. Be sure to allow yourself ample time to distribute the pasta.
How does one interview for a fundraising leader position?
This was my first fundraiser to coordinate. I volunteered but only if I was allowed to choose the fundraising company. I wanted to work with Fun Pasta Fundraising. I was excited about it.
Special thanks to Janet and to the Trace Academy Middle School 7th & 8th Graders for participating. For more information about Trace Academy, visit, http://www.traceacademy.org/. For more information about your next Fundraiser, click here.