Parent-Teacher Clubs Invited To Fund-Raising Boot Camp On Saturday

Ever work on an auction for your child’s school, hoping to raise thousands? Dreamed that a “free” car wash would pay the way for a class field trip?

Fundraisers have been the reality for years as school budgets rarely seem cover the costs of students’ educational experience.

With this in mind, the San Leandro Education Foundation (SLED) and Education Fundraising U will hold free seminars and workshops on Saturday to train parent volunteers to raise more money for their schools.

The free event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Arts Education Center, located at 2200 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.

Parents are encouraged to register their school's representatives to attend at no cost. To sign up visit http://educationfundraisingueastbay.eventbrite.com.

As lead sponsor, SLED expects to host up to 100 schools from Albany to Fremont.

Its training partner will be Education Fundraising U. Based in the East Bay, the group helps teach best practices and share ideas in an interactive seminar format.

“We know our events help schools raise more money,” said Mark Thornton of Education Fundraising U. “As parents, we all want the best for our students. Helping schools raise more money enhances education.”

Thornton is a Danville parent and previously chaired the education fund at his
child’s elementary school.

The seminars and workshops will be led by industry experts who provide effective step-by-step fundraising methods.

Through group collaboration, parents will learn valuable, hands-on techniques to
bring PTO fundraising to the next level:

• Integrating technology into “the classroom of the future”
• Holding a successful auction, live and online
• Board development and board management
• Maximizing fall and spring fund drives
• Communicating to your school with transparency
• Getting your school’s share of matching corporate funds

“Education funding in California is in crisis,” said Deborah Cox, SLED President and the parent of a tenth-grader at San Leandro High School. “But running PTA’s and individual school foundations to make up the shortfall is no small task for parent volunteers. SLED is proud of its partnership with EdFund U to ensure families are better educated and inspired and raise more dollars for their kids."

For more information, visit www.sledfund.org and www.edfundu.com.