Greetings!
When we first began participating in school fundraising efforts, I had heard about “Pennies for Peace” drives. It doesn’t take long to calculate that ten thousand pennies equals one hundred dollars. Try lugging thousands of pennies into the bank, or better yet, roll them into fifty-cent rolls. I chose the phrase “Change for Change,” subliminally suggesting they include, nickels, dimes, and quarters. One day I may be brazen enough to have a "Keep Your Change" drive, but not in schools.
A few years and “Change for Change” drives later, it was evident that, notwithstanding how inspired students were during assemblies, most were simply asking their parents and others for change. That was the extent of their commitment—not a very rewarding or valuable learning experience except for the students who earned what they contributed.
I then adopted the slogan, “The buck stops here.” The slogan afforded me an opportunity to provide a brief history lesson on Harry Truman, explain the meaning of double entendre, and urge students to accept personal responsibility for helping others. Students were told that they needed to earn what they contributed and could not ask their parents for money.
I had no idea what impact this would have on the amount raised and don't care. Fundraising drives are not about raising money. The goal is to raise compassionate, empathetic children who do not pass the buck.
How did it turn out? Earn it drives tripled what was raised before. Most importantly, students experienced the joy of directly impacting the lives of Afghan children. The reward factor is exponentially greater.
Students at Burton Valley Elementary school in Lafayette and Beach Elementary school in Piedmont are either out there earning or will be soon. That's over 1,000 students, many of whom will be selling lemonade or cookies they have made. Some may offer to mow your lawn, wash your car, play an instrument outside a grocery store, invite you to a dinner they prepare and serve, or teach your child how to play La Crosse. All of these have been done in the past.
