'Patch' reports on 'Make a Mighty Difference' Campaign

Lucas Elementary's "Make a Mighty Difference" campaign got some additional publicity this week, with articles in the Iowa City Press-Citizen and on Patch.com, an online publication that covers the Iowa City Area. The Patch.com article is pasted below and can also be read online here.

Lucas Elementary PTO is Hoping to Raise $25,000 with new Fundraising Plan

The parent teacher organization hopes to reach its monetary goal by October 10 using direct ask fundraising instead of using legions of students selling various goods.

Fret not members of the Lucas Elementary School neighborhood.

When you fail to see young children at your door this fall trying to sell you popcorn or wrapping paper, it won't mean something has gone wrong. It will mean that the Lucas Elementary Parent Teacher Organization's (PTO) new fund-raising plan has already gone into effect.

Stephen Pradarelli, Lucas PTO co-president, said this fall will mark the first year that the PTO will use a direct ask fundraising strategy to meet its fundraising goal, which this year is to raise $25,000 by October 10.

Pradarelli said this method will allow the PTO and other parents to ask members of the community for funding directly rather than members of the community buying items from children than they don't necessarily want from students. He said this will also let the young sales people focus on more important matters.

"This is a way for the parents to get more involved and let students focus on learning," Pradarelli said.

Pradarelli said that PTO fundraising is more important than ever as funding becomes more scarce for the school district. The PTO uses the funding each year to provide students with school supplies, classrooms with new technology and to fund class trips.

There also is a long term plan to turn a portion of land outside Lucas into an outdoor classroom using funding from the PTO. This is a plan with several years ahead of it that requires funding to get off the ground, but the prospect of an outdoor classroom still excites Lucas Principal Julia Burton.

"Creating outdoor learning and natural play spaces will enhance every Lucas child’s life,” Burton said. “Studying the natural world impacts science education, but it also encourages thinking creatively about solving the environmental problems we face. Kids are naturally curious about bugs, plants, and dirt. Learning does not just happen in a classroom.”

Pradarelli said the direct donation campaign, called the "Make a Mighty Difference Campaign," is a way for the PTO to respond to members of the community who have asked for such an option when the Lucas PTO used items sold by students for all of its fundraising in the past.

"There have been so many people who have asked, 'Can I just write you a check?'" Pradarelli said.

He said that fundraisers will have to adapt to the fact that people won't be getting an item in exchange for their donation any more, but he's confident that the PTO will meet its goal.

"It's a generous community and I think people really appreciate the opportunity to give directly to the school," Pradarelli said.

Donations can be made on-line, by check or by cash. More information is available at www.makeamightydifference.org.