Student Fundraisers

STUDENT ALLOCATION FUNDRAISER INFORMATION

The BPA raises funds in two ways. We raise funds for the BPA general account, and we provide opportunities for students to raise funds for their student allocations. Students have several opportunities to raise funds by selling products and gift cards. The profits earned from these sales can be used by students for their personal band-related expenses, such as trips, registration, and band related fees. Student allocation funds are especially important during a trip year. Especially take note of the ShopRite, Kohl's, and General Gift Card programs. If you shop at these stores anyway, using BPA-purchased gift cards will earn "free money" for your student. Click on the links below for specific program details. In addition to these programs, the Orchestra Parents Group also offers additional sales programs for students.

A detailed overview of HC Instrumental and Marching Music Program fundraising can be found in the New Marcher Handbook.

Student fundraising program quick links:

• ShopRite No order deadlines; you can purchase on a rolling basis.

• Kohl's No order deadlines; you can purchase on a rolling basis.

• General Gift Cards Can be ordered once a month.

• Shammy Shine Offered for sale twice a year - fall and spring. About 30% profit

• Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough -

GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER FAQs:

• 100% of all profits go towards your BPA Student Allocation (Your price minus cost of products = student profit)

• All cards are used like cash at retailers. Specific retailers may have individual restrictions on what cards can be used for (example – most cards cannot be used to pay store credit card balances EXCEPT for the Kohls cards, which can be used to pay your Kohl's charge).

• Student allocation funds may only be used for student expenses related to participation in marching band.

Helpful Hints for General Gift Cards (also known as SWS - stands for Shop With Scrip):

• Buy in advance for stores you are already visiting on a regular basis: Michaels, Staples, Macy’s, Hallmark, Home Depot, etc. That way, rather than pay with a credit card, pay with gift cards.

• Look at your calendar each month before you submit an order. Is there a birthday coming up? Graduation? Holiday? Baby shower? Housewarming? Buy gift cards to either buy a gift for the event or to give as the gift.

• Holiday or end of school year gifts: Gift cards are good for coaches, bus drivers, teachers, hair stylists, mail carriers, etc. Many common cards come in smaller denominations (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks)

• Birthday parties: Buy a Restaurant.com gift card that sometimes has a 50% rebate and then pair it with a bottle of wine and give both as a beautiful gift.

• Home improvements: Buy Home Depot or Lowes in advance if you are doing a big project. Home Depot will run rebate specials every so often and will offer 6% instead of 4% so buy during the specials.

• Bonus days: SWS runs bonus days. These are a great time to buy so that you can get a few extra percent rebate and then just hold off and submit the order at the regular submission date.

• E script: some of the SWS percentages are higher if you buy the e-script that you print from your computer rather than have ‘hard’ gift card to use.

• ASK friends and neighbors what they might need? Some people like knowing they can buy $500 in Shoprite from you per month and it keeps them on budget. Others like knowing they can submit one order to you at the holidays and they don’t have to get all the ones they are giving as gifts individually. Post on Facebook for your friends to see! People respond, it’s a convenience for them to use you at no extra cost to them.

• Sign up for email specials and Facebook Alerts with Shop with Scrip