tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85126231220302221712024-03-06T00:33:13.702-05:00Mr. Money's fundraising blogWith 27 years as owner of a fundraisng product supply company and 23 years as a high school band director doing lots of fundraising before that, Mr. Money definitely can help your school, youth sports league, church, or community organization raise needed funds through the sale of quality products.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-18578144155386331282013-04-16T16:02:00.002-04:002013-04-16T16:02:59.722-04:00Fall 2013 Programs are readyOur packets were mailed out to 250 schools in Virginia and West Virginia several weeks ago. If you are outside that area and want a packet of brochures mailed to you, just contact us at bob@fundraisingcentral.net<br />
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We are pleased with our fall line. We have shoppers, frozen food, flower bulbs, cookie dough, "Dodo Bags" (beautiful purses and totes), and more. <br />
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We are gearing up to produce our prize videos in early June, and expect them to be spectacular. <br />
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As always, our main focus is on our client groups--providing a lasting investment in the future of our children through quality fundraising programs.<br />
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We would like your organization on our 2013-14 success list. We know we can raise the funds you need, using products you will be proud to deliver, sold at prices people will gladly pay. <br />
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Call 1-800-326-9192 or email bob@fundraisingcentral.net<br />
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Check out all the programs at www.fundraisingcentral.netUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-10674974510995257122012-12-18T11:59:00.001-05:002012-12-18T11:59:58.886-05:00Over The CliffThe talking heads, bloggers, and even the Kiplinger Letter staff say we're going over the fiscal cliff. While this will not immediately impact schools, it would be prudent for school principals to do a Spring Fundraiser to add to their internal accounts in preparation for the 2013-14 school year. As we all know, when state and local finances are tight, school boards freeze budgets early in the school year. If you want to continue to offer field trips, have enough paper and toner for your copier, and have funds for teacher supply requests, you will probably have to do more fundraising. With 28 years of excellence and years before that in education, we can help. Drop by our web site <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a> for our contact information.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-24221449720599616942012-10-24T08:44:00.002-04:002012-10-24T08:44:54.048-04:00<br />
We have a new program to add to your fundraising profits with almost no work on your part.<br />
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Cardraising has set up custom web sites for just about every school in the nation. Additional web sites can be set up for youth sports leagues, civic clubs, and churches.<br />
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Now you just need to make your community aware of it.. We will send (free of charge) all the marketing materials directly to your organization to promote your new website.<br />
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Find your local School's custom website at Cardraising.com. <br />
Click here:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://www.cardraising.com/">http://www.cardraising.com</a><br />
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Select "School" for cause, VA for State, and enter your zip code. <br />
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If for some reason your organization is not listed let me know and I will add it.<br />
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Personalized greeting cards are one of the fastest growing industries sweeping the nation. Each year more and more families are sending these types of holiday cards. Give your community something they are ordering already and make 30% off every order. Prices and quality are competitive with other online photo card vendors<br />
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Be sure to check out the video on the web site.<br />
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No Distribution & No Accounting on your part! Because it is online, Cardraising.com handles the order taking, fulfillment & shipping of all the products ordered. <br />
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Boost your end of the year fundraising this season by simply letting your community know about this NEW Winter fundraiser; after all, it is already up and running at your school and can easily be added for other community organizations<br />
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Call or email me to receive your free marketing materials package.<br />
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Contact me today at <a href="mailto:cards@fundraisingcentral.net">cards@fundraisingcentral.net</a> or 1-800-326-9192<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-30746336584525393802012-08-01T16:01:00.001-04:002012-08-01T16:01:14.610-04:00Fall sales will be strongWe always offer the best quality products form the most reliable sources. This fall we continue with two product lines from Unipak Supply--"Simply Delicious" and "Extravaganza" which both have been very strong performers. We offer quality wrapping paper shoppers from several sources, and also offer quality cookie dough from several sources. You can choose between preportioned or tubs, and between shelf-stable at room temperature using ultra-pasteurized eggs in the mix and a "homemade" recipe with real butter and fresh eggs.
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<br>We continue to offer full service. We design the parent letter, collate it with brochures and order forms, and count the sets out for each classroom or team. We offer a high-energy kickoff pep rally that increases sales dramatically. We train your volunteers on the various techniques and methods that will give you a low-effort, high production sale.
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<br>If you want the very best from an experienced and financially-stable firm, give us a call at 800-326-9192 or email <a href="mailto:bob@fundraisingcentral.net">bob@fundraisingcentral.net</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-7732070374007709662012-04-24T10:43:00.001-04:002012-04-24T10:43:36.222-04:00Our prices are reasonableThere was an article in the local newspaper today about the tax rate in our county. We are at 48 cents per $1000 of assessed value on real estate. The article compared that with the 1983 rate and in 1983 terms of the value of the dollar and the value of real estate our real tax rate is 24 cents. Things have doubled in cost since 1983. I started my fundraising business in 1986. Back then cheddar cheese sold for $7 for a tub. The tub was 16 ounces. Now it sells for $5 for a 7 ounce tub. So our prices haven't doubled on that. Back in 1986 chocolate was selling for 50 cents an ounce. Now it sells for about $1.10 an ounce, so we are about double, just like anything else. Wrapping paper has held its own in dollar pricing, but the rolls are a bit shorter. All in all, your purchasers are getting the same value for their price as they did in 1986, except the product quality is better, the packaging is better, and the prize programs are much better. We offer quality products at prices people are willing to pay. Choose us for repeatable profits year after year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-30737941728067474062012-04-06T11:47:00.001-04:002012-04-06T11:47:43.487-04:00Frozen Food SalesWe can supply a frozen food fundraising program anywhere in the country. Check us out at <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a> for brochures and minimum sales requirements.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-27289816210595007552012-04-05T18:27:00.000-04:002012-04-05T18:26:47.986-04:00Sign up BonusesContact Bob for information on Sign Up Bonuses. There are bonuses for:<p>Elementary schools that sign up by June 15th for a Fall 2012 Fundraiser, Holiday Shop, and Spring 2013 Fundraiser. (Only have to book the date for the Spring one, and pick the brochure later.)<p>Middle schools that sign up by June 15th for a Fall 2012 Fundraiser, fundraisers by two student groups including band, and a Spring 2013 Fundraiser. (Only have to book the date for the Spring one, and pick the brochure later. )Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-58099188715905874902012-04-01T00:21:00.001-04:002012-04-01T00:21:18.422-04:00Fall 2012 programs are ready.Our fall 2012 programs are ready and on our web site. A limited mailing will go out in our local geographic area next week. If you need a new fundraising company for your school, sports league, or community organization, have a look at <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a>. We offer quality products that you will be proud to deliver, at prices people will gladly buy. We also offer superior service. Give us a try.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-15089331118383331382011-01-28T13:57:00.002-05:002011-01-28T14:00:48.455-05:00Another one bites the dustThe Paradigm Shift in product fundraising is pretty much complete now that Scott's of Wisconsin is closing its doors almost immediately. They are yet another victim of the current banking crisis and tight credit. Their fundraising division made a profit last year, but their catalog division (The Wisconsin Cheeseman) did not, plus they have a huge building that has been for sale and has not sold. The overhead was overwhelming and the bank shut them down.<p>This ends the era of large supply companies providing product to large fundraising companies with paid sales staffs. The industry has moved to independent small companies who service school and league companies, with support by pack and ship organizations or manufacturers who deal directly with the independents. </p><p>We continue to pick the top of the line in product quality. With Pine Valley as a cookie dough supplier, Pine River as a supplier of top quality Wisconsin Cheeses, Chocolates, and Sausages, AGI as a pack and ship organization for catalog sales based on cooperative buying group development of brochures and product offerings, Western Promotions as a flower bulb supplier, Unipak Supply as a supplier of frozen food programs, Wolfgang Candy as a source for high quality boxed chocolates, World's Finest Chocolate as a supplier of quality chocolate bars, and Neighborhood Flags as a source for embroidered and printed house and garden flags, we are confident we have a line that will sell at the door and which we can deliver. </p><p>After over two-thirds of the fundraising companies in the nation have gone out of business, we're still here. We service clients who will "do it our way" to maximize their sales. If you want the best, contact us.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-31899599726374655722011-01-05T15:57:00.002-05:002011-01-05T16:03:46.136-05:00The dust settlesThe dust is finally starting to settle on the Fall 2010 fundraising season. We know now that two major pack and ship organizations in the eastern part of the country failed to deliver as promised. Both evidently had very attractive brochures that brought forth more sales than those companies' credit lines with their banks were able to support. <div><br /></div><div>As mentioned before, banks are reluctant to lend, so it is a big gamble bringing in product for a catalog six months before sales even begin. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our approach will be a careful and conservative one. We will be featuring products that we know are available and can be shipped. This may eliminate some of the cuter and more innovative items, but the problems in the supply chain this year indicate that this is the best course of action. Although "The Mackenzie Collection" set sales records in the schools, the very idea of having 31 different manufacturers represented in a brochure brought headaches and backorders. </div><div><br /></div><div>Look for an attractive offering for Spring with items we are sure we can deliver. Look for an innovative and attractive and deliverable fall lineup, available for your inspection in late February or early March. It will be worth the wait, so don't be in any hurry to commit for fall 2011. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-6729710377062387322010-10-20T10:10:00.002-04:002010-11-01T10:11:14.456-04:00Situation in the Fundraising IndustryMost readers already know that in the past five years about 60% of fundraising companies across the United States have gone out of business. Some went bankrupt, and others simply closed down. The reasons were many, and included changes in the availability of financing, balance of trade with China, increasing cost of transportation, offering profit levels and services that were financial losses, and unwillingness of the client base to accept lower profit margins and increased costs. <p>The scientific theory that "nature abhors a vacuum" seems also to be work in the realm of economics these days. As soon as one company goes bankrupt, someone else pops up to give it a try. We have had such an occurrence in the supply chain this year, and it is a major disruption. Late in 2009 an individual who has worked in the industry for a number of years stepped up and started a new import company to capture some of the business left "on the table" by the closing of Giftco and the departure of Scott's from the import market. Since there was not a major import items supplier to the fundraising trade, this individual saw an opportunity.</p><p>The problem occurred when products did not arrive as promised. This has affected most if not all companies who supply nonfood items such as kitchen gadgets, ornaments, decor items and the like. Products are starting to arrive now, but this has created multiple backorders for just about every school and league in the country that is using a standard "catalog shopper" program, regardless of what company they contracted with for their fundraiser. </p><p>Fundraising product sales are highly concentrated into a two month period, with local sales starting in late July for leagues and in August for schools, with most local sales ending in mid-September, with just a few extending later into the fall. Packing operations start in early September for league sales and extend into November for school sales. Since we are at the middle of October when this is being written and are just seeing some of those imported items arriving at pack operations across the country, the backorder of items is occurring for every company nationwide, and is affecting thousands of schools and leagues.</p><p>For those fundraising companies that are in sound financial condition, products will continue to flow and backorders will be filled quickly. For those on shaky financial ground, who are over-leveraged and owe more than their receivables can support this may be the final straw, and some may not be able to afford the additional delivery costs of the backorders. Not only is there a delay in cash inflows, but the cash outflows go longer because temporary workers have to be kept on the payroll longer, until product comes in and is shipped out. So expect even more fundraising companies to go out of business before the fall of 2011. </p><p>Please understand that the pack and ship operations around the country that support the local independent fundraising companies have to make their purchases for the fall of 2011 in Feburary of 2011. This is a giant piece of guesswork and a giant gamble for the pack and ship operations. To protect themselves from financial ruin the "smart" companies are only printing a finite number of brochures to support the sale of products they order. Local fundraising companies are also taking protective measures by requiring higher participation levels for services and profit bonuses. When you compare companies, consider whether a company that "offers the moon and the stars" will actually be around to deliver.</p><p>Product fundraising remains the best and most efficient way for schools and leagues to raise large sums. In the future, however, it will be necessary to book your program earlier in the year and plan carefully to maximize your success. You may need to accept a lower profit percentage with products can be offered at lower prices, so people will actually buy them. With so many organizations raising funds it is essential for schools and leagues to do everything possible to maximize the number of students or players who actually sell and turn in orders. </p><p> There is truly a paradigm shift going on and those who stay in front of it will be rewarded. Those who fail to plan will surely fail.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-49507258336175100282010-09-04T22:49:00.003-04:002010-09-04T23:00:44.103-04:00Chocolate Sales<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lORhYepH1KpV-icDhyD7RpgbfmGhKyxt40PFLBjIONIjrWdK-bC0J0JVW6TPottgtMRHHlJNS9Opbr2heBXYtqC6IfxgOsHSssI0GkUDQB4P3kbhyphenhyphen-GlLEo8z42qrM5uWFyyqBTXQChyphenhyphen/s1600/CANDYCHART.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lORhYepH1KpV-icDhyD7RpgbfmGhKyxt40PFLBjIONIjrWdK-bC0J0JVW6TPottgtMRHHlJNS9Opbr2heBXYtqC6IfxgOsHSssI0GkUDQB4P3kbhyphenhyphen-GlLEo8z42qrM5uWFyyqBTXQChyphenhyphen/s320/CANDYCHART.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513258092124598370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28FYY5wjHoQaCH2QfM4DCOuFsJLwsoqtLfMyuqNtYaYfNNN22IlInRlYMt3ROzlm4CA6HqqEGbH3XynjckD64LBc7sxGoMatvnNWSxwURFs_1bGY1NP4NJ2eBPOR5NK1okEycFDLomQY6/s1600/CHILDHOODOBESITY.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28FYY5wjHoQaCH2QfM4DCOuFsJLwsoqtLfMyuqNtYaYfNNN22IlInRlYMt3ROzlm4CA6HqqEGbH3XynjckD64LBc7sxGoMatvnNWSxwURFs_1bGY1NP4NJ2eBPOR5NK1okEycFDLomQY6/s320/CHILDHOODOBESITY.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513258094402585474" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SELLING CHOCOLATE.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Will chocolate fundraising add to the problem of childhood obesity?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">It's important to note that Wolfgang fundraising chocolate is primarily sold to adults. While it's possible the chocolate that is sold may be consumed by some children, if eaten in moderation, chocolate can be included in most diets. The current USDA food pyramid even includes sweets as part of a balanced diet. Sweets, such as chocolate, are considered "discretionary" calories and can be included in a well- rounded diet as long as they are eaten in moderation.</span><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">1</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Our school has strict health policies. Can we sell chocolate?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">The U.S. state and local health and wellness policies only restrict the sale of foods sold on school premises during school hours that compete with the national breakfast and lunch programs.</span><span style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">2 </span><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the nutritional content of national school food programs, but not competitive foods, such as fundraising chocolate.</span><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">3</span></sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Because fundraising activities take place off school premises and not during school hours, the health policies do not apply. Also—and here's a very important distinction—Wolfgang fundraising chocolate is sold to adults and not to children.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">If you are told there is a health policy issue, remember that these nutritional standards, based on the U.S. Federal Government's Child Nutrition Act, were developed as guidelines for food served on campus, during school hours in the cafeteria.</span><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">4</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Chocolate used for fundraising is not subject to the Child Nutrition Act.</span><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS"; font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Do the health policies apply when it comes to fundraising?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Chocolate fundraising takes place outside of school-sanctioned events and off school<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">premises, so it is not subject to the health policies. The same is true of other snacks sold off school premises, such as pizza and soda sold at concession stands during sporting events. The health policies only apply to food served on school grounds, during school hours in the cafeteria.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Is chocolate unhealthy?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">No, if eaten in moderation. Chocolate has a lot of healthy benefits and, in the world of snack foods, it's one of the healthier options. Here are some of the benefits of chocolate:</span><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">5</span></sup><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Made from natural ingredients – cocoa beans, sugar and milk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• High in antioxidants, the molecules that may protect cells from diseases (one serving of dark chocolate has more antioxidants than a serving of blueberries!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Contains stearic acid, the acid that may reduce cholesterol in the blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Contains oleic acid, the acid that may increase good cholesterol levels (HDL)</span><sup><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">6</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Contains cocoa butter, a naturally occurring good fat like olive oil or canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• No <i>bad </i>trans fats <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• No preservatives or artificial colors</span><sup><span style="mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">7</span></sup><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Low in sodium (salt) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">• Contains valuable protein, calcium, and iron<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Doesn't chocolate have a lot of fat and calories?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Chocolate should be considered a treat and not part of a main meal. The key to a healthy lifestyle is a balanced diet and regular exercise with treats included in moderation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">An average serving of chocolate has 13 grams of fat (most of which comes from cocoa butter, the <i>good </i>fat found in cocoa beans</span><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">8</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">) and 220 calories. A serving of apple pie, another popular dessert, has 360 calories and 17 grams of fat. A slice of cheesecake contains 411 calories and 25 grams of fat!</span><sup><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">9</span></sup><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">How does chocolate consumption relate to childhood<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">obesity?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">Chocolate consumption has not been proven as the main cause of childhood obesity. For instance, Americans are not among the top consumers of chocolate per capita, yet we are the most obese nation in the world. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004 (NHANES) states: Children candy consumers compared to non-consumers had significantly lower body weight, waist circumference, and triceps skin fold measures</span><sup><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:4.5pt;color:black;">10</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">The same study shows child candy consumers were 19% less likely to be overweight and 18% less likely to be at risk of being overweight or becoming overweight. Thus, these data suggest that child consumers of candy were able to balance energy intake and consume candy in amounts that do not appear to negatively affect health, as seen in the chart at the top of this posting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">What are some potential reasons for childhood obesity?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Children are less active today. Childhood obesity is the result of an imbalance between the calories a child consumes and the calories a child uses to support growth and development, metabolism, and physical activity. In other words, obesity results when a child consumes more calories that the child uses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Wolfgang recognizes that childhood obesity is indeed a problem; one possible cause is that only 78.3% of schools provide physical education for their students, according to the most recent School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS).</span><sup><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">Fundraising programs like ours help to subsidize many of these school fitness and athletic programs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">To put this issue in greater perspective, consider these facts related to childhood obesity as shown in the diagram at the top of this posting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">There has not been a single local, state, or national policy that has banned fundraising with chocolate. In fact, the current language in Washington DC for the renewal of the school lunch program specifically exempts fundraising from the wellness regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;">The health policies only apply to food served on school grounds, during school hours in the cafeteria. Chocolate fundraising takes place outside of school-sanctioned events and off school premises, so it is not subject to the health policies. The same is true of other snacks sold off school premises, such as pizza and soda sold at concession stands during sporting events.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:#170901;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"> </span></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:15.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Use the Wolfgang Sale to educate children on healthy lifestyles!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">Chocolate and confections are part of a healthy lifestyle and should be included in our diets, but in moderation. Part of our responsibility as parents and educators is to teach children how to lead healthy lives now and when they are adults. Children who learn the importance of balanced eating will be better equipped to manage their own diet as adults. A WFC sale is the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues with children and teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">1.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Use your kickoff to teach children about healthy eating:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>a.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Give them examples of <b><i>Sometimes foods </i></b>and <b><i>Always foods. <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">b. Teach them the difference between a <b><i>Meal</i></b>, a <b><i>Snack</i></b>, and a <b><i>Treat</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Chocolate is a Treat – to be used for smiles, pleasure, happiness, and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>most importantly in moderation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>c.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Remind them of the importance of play, sports, and physical activity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Use your prizes to promote physical activity. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">3. Remind your sponsor that the sale itself will promote walking as children safely<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.5pt;color:black;">sell Wolgang in the community with their parents. Walking is one of the key differences between American and European lifestyles. Newer towns and developments are being designed to promote walking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;color:#8B0E19;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-Trebuchet MS";font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;color:#8B0E19;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">1</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"Inside the Pyramid," USDA: <a href="http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/discretionary">http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/discretionary</a> _calories.html<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">2</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"Child Nutrition Reauthorization: An Overview of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act": <a href="http://www.candyusa.com/News/PublicPolicyDet">http://www.candyusa.com/News/PublicPolicyDet</a> ail.cfm?ItemNumber=1531<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">3</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"School Food Environments and Policies in US Public Schools" from <i>Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: </i><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/">http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/</a> 122/1/e251<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">4</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">USDA Food and Nutrition Service links: <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/nslp-">http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/nslp-</a> legislation.htm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">5</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"The Health Benefits of Chocolate": <a href="http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/health-">http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/health-</a> benefits-of-chocolate.html<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">5</span><span style="font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"Chocolate: The Exhibition" at The Field Museum, Chicago: <a href="http://www.fieldmuseum.org/Chocolate/eat_healt%20h%202a.html">http://www.fieldmuseum.org/Chocolate/eat_healt h 2a.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">7</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"What's In The Foods You Eat," USDA Agricultural Research Service: <a href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?">http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?</a> docid=17032<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:7.0pt;color:#170901;">8</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"Cocoa Butter: A Natural Fat": <a href="http://www.allchocolate.com/health/nutrition/fats">http://www.allchocolate.com/health/nutrition/fats</a>. Aspx<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">9</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"What's In The Foods You Eat," USDA Agricultural Research Service: <a href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?">http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?</a> docid=17032<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">10</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">"National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:6.0pt;color:#170901;">11</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:#170901;">SHPPS 2006: Topic and Component Specific Fact Sheets: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHPPS/2006/">http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHPPS/2006/</a> factsheets/topic_component.htm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-13866871907016893982010-07-30T09:19:00.001-04:002010-07-30T09:19:40.056-04:00FALL 2010 UPDATESThe Mackenzie Collection and 'Tis the Season are now sold out. All <br>the brochures are gone to other groups. We do not reprint, so there <br>is never any chance of us running out of product.<p>The good news is that we have several other wonderful lines that we <br>just added. WOW has many of the items from Mackenzie and Tis the <br>Season in a new format, plus it has new items not in the other programs.<p>We have added the entire line from S'kool Smartz and the entire line <br>from UniPak supply to take up the slack. These are quality lines that <br>we used in the past, and only left them because of higher <br>transportation costs for us. To serve our customers better we have <br>added them back.<p>Also we carry the complete line from Wolfgang Candy, in business <br>manufacturing quality Chocolate products in York PA since the <br>1920's. This is a family-owned company just like all the others with <br>which we work.<p>Check out all our lines at <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-87067186169080141732010-04-20T09:01:00.001-04:002010-04-20T09:01:33.936-04:00Bob Moody has invited you to Dropbox<table width="650" align="center" style="font-size: 14px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr id="topshadow"> <td height="10" width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_tl.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"></td> <td height="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_top.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td height="10" width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_tr.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> </tr> <tr id="header"> <td width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_left.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" rowspan="2"></td> <td height="102" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/header_bg.gif" bgcolor="#e6f1fb" align="center"> <table width="95%"><tr><td align="left"><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/email_logo.gif" /></td></tr></table> </td> <td width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_right.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" rowspan="2"> </td> </tr> <tr id="content"> <td bgcolor="#f4faff" align="center"> <table width="95%" cellpadding="30"> <tr> <td align="left"> <font face="Lucida Grande, Segoe UI, Arial, Verdana, Lucida Sans Unicode, Tahoma, Sans Serif"> We're excited to let you know that Bob Moody has invited you to Dropbox!<br/><br/> Bob Moody has been using Dropbox to sync and share files online and across computers, and thought you might want it too.<br/><br/> <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/link/20.WlXIKK6yF4/NjE0NjgxMzc2Nw">Visit www.dropbox.com</a> to get started.<br/><br/> - The Dropbox Team<br/> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr id="bottomshadow"> <td height="10" width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_bl.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"></td> <td height="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_bottom.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> <td height="10" width="10" background="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/shadow_br.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"> </td> </tr> <tr id="copyright"> <td></td> <td> <table style="width: 100%;"> <tr> <td style="font-size: 11px; color: #909090; padding-left: 45px;"> To stop receiving invites from Dropbox, click <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/bl/c9f6768158ca/moody4.postingemail%40blogger.com">here</a> </td> <td style="text-align: right; width: 120px;"> <img src="https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/emails/gray_logo.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle"/> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #888;">© 2010 Dropbox</span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td></td> </tr> </table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-71926095559381371242010-03-02T15:39:00.001-05:002010-03-02T15:39:39.414-05:00Why use our giftwrap program instead of "theirs?"1. The national giftwrap programs have changed. We have kept to our basic principles. <p>2. The national giftwrap companies expect parents to enter orders online. That's well and good for those who have high speed internet, but what about all those families in rural areas with dial-up internet?<br> <br>3. Having parents enter orders online is promoted as saving hours of time for volunteers. What about the extra time each family has to spend entering orders. Can this reduce participation and sales in the long run? <p>4. One national company has gone to online-only ordering with no printed catalog. This makes it difficult for those without high-speed internet, including grandparents, people in rural areas, and those who do not have computers.<p>5. We offer all American-made wrapping paper and accessories. The national giftwrap companies use some imported wrap accessory items. <p>6. Our wrap supplier, The Giftwrap Company, is the largest wrap manufacturer in the world and we have an exclusive with them for fundraising. <p>7. Our wrap and gift catalog includes discount cards from Omaha Steaks. Their catalogs do not.<p>8. Our wrap and gift catalog includes discounts cards from Restaurants.com and their catalogs do not. <p>9. Schools and leagues can earn up to 60% profit on wrap items in our catalog. One national wrap company offers only 40% and the other offers up to 50%. Our profit bonus plan is based on the level of participation by your group--how many members sold out of those receiving brochures. <br> <br>10. Our company and our business partners' companies are owned and managed by people experienced in product fundraising for schools--people with experience "in the field" running projects. Theirs are owned by groups of investors with no direct experience in fundraising. <p>There you have the top ten reasons you should be using our Mackenzie Collection. Go right now to <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a> and click on fall programs. Follow the links to view this wonderful program. <p>Then call us for an appointment, email us with questions, or just call or email to set up your sale for fall. <p>You'll be so glad you did!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-45037206865623503912010-01-14T08:13:00.000-05:002010-01-14T08:14:08.441-05:00Jewelry in our holiday workshops are kid safeWe use the "Elf Shelf" as our supplier for our holiday workshops. All of the jewelry is lead-free, cadmium-free, and nickel-free. So for a safe choice in your holiday workshop in your elementary school next year, give us a call.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-53875542589250044032009-03-19T16:24:00.002-04:002009-03-19T16:35:21.164-04:00We are in business and in good shapeGiftco's closing will not affect our ability to provide strong fundraising programs for our client groups. Our two fall shoppers had a few Giftco-sourced items that will be replaced by other items. The "Snowflake Surprises" and "MacKenzie Collection" brochures continue to be very strong in their sell-through "at the door." The wrapping paper is partly from American Greetings and partly from Sullivan (supplier to "Sally") so the quality is excellent.<p>Our frozen food programs continue to excel. We have a new selection of baked goods, and continue to offer first-rate Wisconsin Cheeses, Sausages, and Chocolates. We still have strong flower bulb, jewelry, and candle programs.</p><p>As a company we are debt free and have a strong cash position. You can be assured of delivery of your products if you deal with us in the fall of 2009.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-6044508574780280962009-03-19T15:21:00.001-04:002009-03-19T15:21:39.256-04:00Major Supplier Giftco goes out of businessGiftco has closed. With Scott's stopping imports, that leaves the entire fundraising industry without a supply of "stock" shopper catalogs. Each regional or national company will now have to develop their own catalogs and find their own sources of goods. The immediate result will likely be that at least a third of the local fundraising companies in the US will go out of business as the entire industry continues to contract. <div><br></div><div>Here is a statement from a regional Giftco representative to his fundraising company customers:</div><div><br></div><div><div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: normal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; ">Sadly and unfortunately Giftco has run into an obstacle that we cannot overcome.</span></font><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px; ">As you are aware the banking climate in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> today is at its worst in our lifetimes. We have been working toward refinancing the company with a new bank for many months. During that period of time we were convinced that an agreeable transaction was in the works. As in all of life no deal is done until it is finalized. Over the last two days, in the final hours of negotiations stipulations were changed or added which made it impossible for Giftco to go forward.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px; ">As you are aware we had severely tightened our belts over the last 12 months and made many internal changes. The owners invested sizable additional funds into Giftco. Our outside partners were lined up to do so also. However, with the banks' new additional requirements, we are not in a position to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px; ">The result of this is that Giftco will discontinue operations. This will be done through an orderly liquidation of assets and dissolution of the company.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px; ">We will make every effort to work with our customers to provide you with goods to service your schools. We have existing inventory to build kits of "In School Shoppe" merchandise. We have existing prize inventory. We have sizable inventories on many excellent "evergreen" products. These goods will be made available for purchase and immediate shipment over the next couple of weeks. We will be in contact with you to offer these opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; "><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px; ">We are both exasperated and devastated over this turn of events. We did not foresee this outcome as being a realistic possibility until the last few days. Over the last few days we have exhausted all known possibilities for the required funding. In any other banking climate Giftco would be viewed as a good client; in the current climate that is simply not the case.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "> Regrettably we can only apologize that we will not be around to work with you in the future.</span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-18853298205776764382009-03-18T16:55:00.001-04:002009-03-18T16:55:19.555-04:00Gift item availability questionable for fall 2009The trend in fundraising is toward food, but wrapping paper is still <br>strong. As of today, the word "on the street" is that the major <br>importer of fundraising gift items has closed its doors--another <br>casualty of the current economic downturn and the banking crisis. The <br>other major importer announced several weeks ago that they would be <br>stopping their import business and concentrate on food items that they <br>product domestically.<p>Our fall shoppers are secure. We have 24 items to re-source from the <br>importer that closed its doors today, and that's already in the <br>works. This same importer was a major player in the holiday shop <br>market, but we use the "other" importer that is still going strong. <br>Our wrapping paper is all domestic--made by American Greetings and by <br>Sullivan. Our food items are all domestic.<p>So if you have been using someone else for your holiday shop or fall <br>fundraiser, call us instead. We've been in business for 22 years and <br>are debt free. We choose which schools and organizations we work with <br>based on their willingness to follow our plan for success. For us, <br>failure is not an option.<p>Our food programs continue to do well. They are all sourced on the <br>east coast, so that pricing buys more product quality and less in <br>transportation. Prices are locked in for several months, and our <br>retail prices are lower than those of most other companies.<p>The current economic situation is likely to put another several <br>hundred fundraising companies out of business. We are still here and <br>stand ready to help you with your fundraising needs for fall 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-59688550929430014912009-02-27T15:00:00.000-05:002009-02-27T15:01:12.686-05:00Fundraising needs increase as recession deepens<!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal">One of our associates in Pennsylvania writes: </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal">Contrary to the current economic trends we have found that in the first 2 months of 2009 schools sold more than for the same 2 month period in 2008 ( $13,920 vs $10,339) a 35%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>increase. Here are a few examples.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="330" style="width:330.0pt; margin-left:4.65pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr style="height:14.25pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Jan 1 - Feb 26, 09<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Jan 1 - Feb 26, 08<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:13.5pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Eaton Middle School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">5,454.30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">4,863.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Reading High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,262.97<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">1,284.73<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Edison High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,197.97<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">1,575.60<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Warren County Technical School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">1,578.60<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">1,500.30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Mahanoy Area High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">1,008.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">853.13<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">This just confirms the fact that the American People have a heart no matter what the economic condition. Contributing to a worthy cause is as American as apple pie. Fundraising is recession proof. We can't ignore the facts. It is easier for people to pool their resources to get something that is needed than for one person to pay for the whole thing. A young single mom want to see her son play ice hockey, but the cost is $500. How does she get the funds? She fund raises along with the rest of the moms. She and her son, like the rest of the hockey team, reach out to family, friends and co workers and sell food and dry goods to earn money to help defray the cost of hockey. People helping people is an old concept that still works well. The present economic condition lends itself to an increase need for fund raisers. People need help and we can show them a viable way to get the help they need. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Do not get caught up in the hysteria of Wall Street. We are here to help the people on Main Street. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Another analysis to prove this point is that we have sold to over 45 ($62,704) new accounts in the past 2 months as compared to same 2 month period as in 2008. Listed are a few examples<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="330" style="width:330.0pt; margin-left:4.65pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr style="height:14.25pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Jan 1 - Feb 26, 09<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.25pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Jan 1 - Feb 26, 08<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:13.5pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>North Middle School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">5,835.90<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:13.5pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Towamensing Elementary School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">4,255.29<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Andrew Lewis Middle School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">3,930.60<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Northwest Area High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">3,724.62<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Edward Gideon Elementary<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">3,152.03<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>North Schuylkill High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,647.45<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,471.53<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Warwick Senior High School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,104.40<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Chester County Technical College<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,067.21<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:12.75pt"> <td width="170" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:170.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><b>Thomas Jefferson Elementary School<o:p></o:p></b></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">2,057.62<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="12" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:12.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div> </td> <td width="74" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:74.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height:12.75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">0.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Organizations recognize the need to fund raise. If this is the case with your organization, then go to <a href="http://www.fundraisingcentral.net">www.fundraisingcentral.net</a> to see what we offer, contact us, and let's get started. <o:p></o:p></div> <!--EndFragment--> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-9375672565001863852009-02-16T17:13:00.000-05:002009-02-16T17:14:04.531-05:00Bailouts.... hardly!Headlines everywhere are talking about school budget cuts. Reductions <br>in force will happen in many localities as well as wage freezes for <br>teachers, administrators, and support staff. Where is the bailout <br>coming from and when will it get here? PARENTS will have to bail out <br>the schools and will have to start NOW.<p>Some school principals will just say "no" to everything and if that is <br>the case in your school, neither I nor any other fundraising company <br>can help you. Your kids will just be deprived of many things you want <br>them to experience. Other principals will roll up their sleeves and <br>get to work on building community support and raising money for the <br>school. If this is your school, I can help and will be glad to do so <br>by providing a quality fundraiser with outstanding motivation for <br>students and parents alike.<p>It will take two main ingredients to make it work:<br>1. A product that people will buy at the price at which it is offered.<br>2. Enthusiasm on the part of everyone at the school... so much so that <br>parents become enthusiastic enough to take action and sell.<p>The first of these is up to me. The second is up to you. Getting the <br>kids really excited is pretty easy. Keeping them and the parents <br>excited for two weeks requires effort.<p>Our Fall 2009 offerings are about ready. There have been some changes <br>in product on our web site with more to follow. For the local service <br>area where we actually visit schools there will be a mailing that <br>includes our product line and service information. If you are serious <br>about raising a large sum, we are here to help.<p>You do not have to wait until fall. You can do a Spring "fill up the <br>treasury" fundraiser or one for a specific purpose. Last May we had a <br>sale with a school of around 600 students on our frozen food line <br>"Food Court" and they sold over $19,000 in frozen food. The prize <br>program was very simple... sell 1 items and you're in the draw for a <br>cash prize of $50. Sell 15 items and choose any free food item on the <br>brochure, and if you win in the drawing, the cash prize doubles. The <br>parents believed in the cause and the teachers got excited. It worked.<p>If you read previous posts on this blog, you will see that the world <br>financial crisis has affected the fundraising industry just like it <br>has many other industries. So far we are doing just fine financially <br>as are our major suppliers. We anticipate good product flow and <br>excellent services for our clients this Spring and through the year.<p>One important point is that there will be a fixed supply of brochures <br>available. Once they are sold out, they are gone forever without a <br>reprint. Product is already ordered for August delivery on our <br>catalog shoppers. We can only have as many catalogs as we have <br>product to support them and the ordering deadline is now for wrapping <br>paper, gift items, kitchen gadgets, and other non-food items. So, we <br>guess on how much to order and hope, just like we have in past years. <br>Now, however, the option of air freighting in product from the Orient <br>is not available, because of the cost. We have ordered boldly, and <br>have means of disposing of unsold inventory, so things should move <br>along smoothly. On the other hand, schools and leagues that put off <br>deciding on a fall fundraiser may be out of luck with us and with just <br>about every other fundraising company in the nation. The time to <br>decide is during the time period from March 1 through April 30. After <br>that brochures will be sold out quickly.<p>Another important thing to consider is the participation of the <br>Principal and Teachers in your school or the Coaches in your league. <br>Strong and effective leadership, and the building of excitement is <br>going to be essential if you are to have a successful fundraiser. <br>Because of fixed costs, we are going to expect that at least 40% of <br>your enrollment will turn in orders on any Spring or Fall fundraiser. <br>There will be a "less than minimum participation surcharge" of 3% of <br>retail for groups that fail to meet that level. This is necessary to <br>the financial survival of ANY fundraising company in today's economy. <br>BUT getting 40-60% of your enrollment to sell isn't "rocket <br>science." We know how to do this and can teach you how.<p>On a school-wide sale your Principal MUST endorse the project and <br>build excitement in it. Some sort of "stunt" will probably be the <br>best way to do this. There are many that have been done.... top <br>sellers get to duct tape the principal to the wall; principal kisses <br>a pig or cow or whatever; principal spends the night on the roof; <br>principal goes through a "carless car wash"; let your creativity soar <br>and your profits will soar too. There are some excellent suggestions <br>on the PTO Today web site.<p>Your Teachers MUST endorse the project and build excitement in it. <br>One tried and true way to encourage this is to allocate a specific <br>percentage of sales profits to each classroom, based on that <br>particular class's sales performance, toward classroom supplies. <br>Having the teachers each write a note to parents in their own <br>handwriting is a strong method of getting parents to support the <br>project. Daily promotions that involve the teacher's participation <br>also help immensely. We can teach you how to do this.<p>Finally, it is going to be necessary for the school to join with the <br>fundraising company in providing a strong prize and motivational <br>program. Daily PA announcements about the sale are a must, as are <br>send-home letters 3 days after the sale starts encouraging parents to <br>participate and again 2 days before the end of the sale reminding them <br>that "there is little time left".<p>So watch our web site, look for our packet in the mail (or request <br>one) and then decide early. Then reap the rewards.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-65176677126287253672008-10-09T08:10:00.001-04:002008-10-09T08:10:53.329-04:00Bidding, Beijing, Banks, and BackordersWhat in the world do Bidding, Beijing, Banks, and Backorders have in <br>common? More than you would think. This is complicated and will take <br>quite a few words. Be aware, however, that if you are a fundraising <br>project sponsor in a school or sports league and are selling something <br>other than food items, you will probably have backorders. This is <br>true no matter what salesperson you deal with or what company you will <br>pay for your product. The problem is industry-wide and is significant.<p>Before we get to that, we need to describe the nature of the product <br>fundraising industry. The salesperson that visits your school or <br>league is likely either an independent businessperson using the <br>services of a pack/ship facility or an employee of a salesforce <br>company. (The third option is that he/she owns a pack/ship facility <br>and also works with client groups, but this is becoming increasingly <br>rare.) The pack/ship or salesforce company buys product from mid- <br>level or source-level suppliers. Mid-level suppliers purchase <br>product, arrange it into catalogs, publish catalogs, and sell the <br>products and catalogs to pack/ship or salesforce companies. Larger <br>pack/ship or salesforce companies my develop their own catalogs and go <br>directly to manufacturers or high-level suppliers. Finally there are <br>manufacturing facilities that make "house brand" goods upon demand, as <br>designed by their own creative staff, or on designs supplied by the <br>companies that buy from them. All of these companies are <br>interdependent, and also depend on banks for their financing for their <br>inventory, payroll, buildings, and equipment.<p>Now back to Bidding. What has this got to do with fundraising?<p>First of all, a LOT of fundraising "hard goods" such as wrapping <br>paper, tags, ribbons, bows, candles, giftware, and home decor items <br>come from China. Over the past fifteen years it has been cost <br>effective to design this type of goods in the US and then go to China <br>to find a factory to make the goods, because of the relationship <br>between US and Chinese currencies. Even with the cost of ocean <br>shipping, it was very cost effective. The push for lower cost on <br>goods came as more and more salespersons attended what in the industry <br>is known as "cattle calls" where PTA's and Sports Leagues had a <br>meeting where companies were invited to come and pitch their wares. <br>Salespersons, encouraged by their companies, started bidding up the <br>profit percentage in order to win the business, and to continue to be <br>profitable without raising retails to the "choke point" had to look <br>for lower cost of goods, and China was there willing and able to <br>provide he goods. That was about fifteen years ago when the balance <br>of trade and exchange rate between US and Chinese currency was <br>favorable to US companies buying product from China. Even WalMart <br>changed from domestic to imported goods about that time.<p>After the competition in the industry had maxed out the possible <br>profit margin for schools and leagues, the fundraising industry <br>"created its own monster" by increasing the number and variety of free <br>services, such as kickoff assemblies, pack per seller, complete <br>fulfillment of orders with no backordered items, increasingly <br>comprehensive prize programs, and ever-larger catalogs. The schools <br>and leagues came to see these services as the norm, so any company not <br>offering them lost business. To pay for these "free" services, just <br>about every company increased prices a little each year. In 1986, <br>there were $2 and $3 items on most brochures. Now the lowest price is <br>$5 or higher. All of this depended on cheap goods from China.<p>Things went smoothly until inflation increased and the dollar fell. <br>This did not have a great impact at first, but as the dollar grew even <br>weaker and the Chinese economy grew in strength, suddenly the retail <br>pricing of goods went past the "choke point" and schools/leagues <br>changed from post-pay to pre-pay sales because of increasing numbers <br>of uncollected sales. These events combined to create a level of <br>frustration on the part of parents that reduced their willingness to <br>participate in the sales. Where in 1985 70% to 80% of parents were <br>participating in sales, which were mostly post-pay, by 2005 the <br>typical participation rate was down to 35% to 40%. Gradually, over <br>time, sales were cut in half.<p>So much for the damage caused by bidding. The casualties included <br>five major suppliers, a number of minor suppliers, about half the <br>national sales force and half of the distribution companies. Schools <br>and leagues expected "business as usual" and the casualties mounted.<p>In 1985 there were as many as eight major suppliers, a dozen national <br>"sales force" companies, and over 500 small independent companies. By <br>2007 there were about four major national "sales force" companies, <br>about 200 small independent companies, and only two major suppliers-- <br>Scott's and Giftco.<p>Now to Banks. Giftco's bank looked at their uncollected accounts <br>caused by the bankruptcies of several major pack/ship and sales force <br>fundraising companies and changed the company's terms for their credit <br>line at the bank. The ripple went industry-wide. This caused a change <br>in terms for pack/ship and sales force fundraising companies. Now <br>companies had to order 70% of anticipated needs in February for the <br>following fall, guessing on how many of each item to order, with the <br>assurance of 50% "backup" for a reorder in September. (That's why <br>product is priced high--so up to half the inventory of any item that <br>doesn't sell can be sold off to Big Lots or put into the landfill.) <br>Scott's followed suit as credit tightened in 2008. Where pack/ship <br>and salesforce companies had relied on supplier financing, with terms <br>as generous as "buy in February, take delivery in August, pay in <br>December", now the terms are quite a bit tighter, with payment <br>required in October or early November. The pack/ship and salesforce <br>companies had to get their own bank financing, and if that were not <br>possible, were forced out of business. This means that the pack/ship <br>companies now have to collect from the independent sales <br>representatives within 15 days rather than 30 or 45 days, and the <br>independent sales persons have to collect from schools and leagues <br>before shipment, or upon delivery. Any "late pay" school or league <br>has a domino effect all the way up the supply chain. The tightening of <br>terms is a direct result of the changing ratio of value between the US <br>and Chinese economies. Generous terms were initially financed by what <br>was called a "ten time mark" on products from China. In reality the <br>"mark" was even higher in some instances. The "out the door" price in <br>China for a $10 retail item may have been from 40 cents to 80 cents <br>back in the late 1980's. This allowed room for the cost of shipping, <br>allowed suppliers to sell the $10 product to pack/ship or salesforce <br>companies for $1.25, which allowed costs of buildings, warehouse <br>staff, packing, brochures, prizes, and shipping to the school or <br>league. This allowed the $10 product to be sold to schools/leagues <br>for $5, allowing a 50% profit (or 100% mark-up) by the school or <br>league. When the economic balance was changed, this scenario collapsed.<p>Companies cannot produce goods without cash. Companies cannot buy <br>goods without cash. If accounts receivable cannot be collected in a <br>timely manner, companies have to borrow money. If banks won't lend, <br>everything grinds to a halt. That has happened to some extent.<p>Enter Beijing and the Olympics. There are many factories around the <br>Beijing area and they are terrible polluters. To get the Olympics, <br>China had to agree to improve air quality in the areas where outdoor <br>events would be held. To make these improvements, they had to close a <br>number of factories temporarily during the late Spring and early <br>Summer, the exact time when many fundraising products are manufactured <br>in these factories. When the Olympics were over, it took some time to <br>get factories back up to speed. They were behind and stayed behind. <br>Because it takes weeks to months to get products from factories, to <br>port, across the ocean, unloaded at the port, and trucked to <br>suppliers' warehouses, the entire supply chain was interrupted for <br>certain types of products. Right now things like gift tags, ribbons, <br>and other paper products, along with some gift items are being <br>affected. Product that was ordered in February by pack/ship and <br>salesforce companies has not been delivered to their warehouses by <br>suppliers. It should have arrived in August. but did not. As time <br>passed and other matters were pressing, warehouse staffs didn't notice <br>the problem until it was too late. This was universal throughout the <br>industry. Everyone was blindsided by this.<p>We hear a lot about "just in time inventory" these days in business <br>circles. This works well as long as every company in the supply chain <br>performs as expected. We have had instances where port backups <br>delayed product, and this is something that is easy to see because <br>there are many ships on the ocean off the coast at Long Beach or <br>Galveston. But when the factories just don't produce the product on <br>schedule and do not inform their customers, and the word doesn't get <br>passed downline, we hit a crisis point in October when product hasn't <br>arrived when school and league orders are ready for packing. The <br>entire industry, in the non-food portion of product, is in that <br>situation right now.<p>It is not possible to delay packing until product comes in. Product <br>fundraising warehouses are seasonal businesses and hire workers to do <br>data entry and pack product during a fixed season in the fall and <br>again in the spring. Some of these workers also do seasonal work in <br>other industries, so their schedules are not all that flexible. <br>Product deliveries also are constrained by sports seasons or school <br>holidays. Replacing workers requires training time. There isn't any <br>time left. Warehouses have limited floor space for packed product on <br>skids waiting on trucklines to pick up, so the flow has to continue.<p>Thanks to Bidding, Banks, and Beijing, this creates backorders, and <br>they will be extensive across the country throughout all fundraising <br>companies where non-food products are involved.<p> So what is a fundraising chairperson in a school or league to do? <br>First, do not panic. (We have heard that quite a bit of late about <br>the financial situation, but it is true there and also is true in <br>fundraising.) Communicate to your parents the real reasons for this <br>unfortunate situation. Rest assured that the product will be shipped <br>to you when it becomes available. It will be inconvenient for <br>everyone involved--parents, end consumers, salespersons, company <br>owners, and bankers. You will get yelled at. It isn't personal, so <br>just hang in there and wait until the dust settles and the Christmas <br>Holiday arrives.<p>Yes there will be casualties. Some parents will become disgusted and <br>opt out of your next fundraiser. Some companies will go out of <br>business. Quite a few people working in the industry will be out of <br>work. It will become more difficult for you to find someone to fill <br>your fundraising needs in the future.<p>After the dust settles, you would be wise to switch to an all-food <br>project. Pizza, cheesecakes, cookie dough, cheese, chocolate bars, <br>boxed chcocolates, soup mixes, and microwaveable sandwiches are all <br>domestically-produced, and most are available from regional <br>manufacturers and suppliers. People buy food products sold in <br>fundraising from their grocery budgets and will support your sale.<p>If you have a sales rep or company that has served you well in the <br>past, stick with them. They are having as much trouble as you are, <br>and if they survive, will be stronger for it and will be glad to <br>switch you to an all-food program in the future. If your problem is <br>very severe, consider switching to $1 chocolate bars for your next <br>sale and then introducing other food items as time goes on.<p>Sorry for the bad news, but you deserve to know the truth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-11642163143952334942008-09-24T10:56:00.000-04:002008-09-24T10:57:16.179-04:00A dose of reality for project sponsors.Times have changed. Everyone is paying too much for gas. Quite a few <br>families are "upside down" on their mortgages--owing more than their <br>home is worth in today's market. Many people have way too much credit <br>card debt. To expect to raise as much money on a single project as <br>you did in the past is not realistic. To expect fundraising companies <br>to continue doing business "as usual" is not at all realistic either. <br>As the economy tightens, more and more groups are chasing fewer and <br>fewer discretionary dollars in the community. The cost of doing <br>business for fundraising companies is going up rapidly. It has gotten <br>to the point that certain client groups are not cost effective for a <br>company to keep servicing. A large number of fundraising companies <br>have gone out of business and more are sure to follow as the cost of <br>doing business eats up the bottom line and company owners can no <br>longer make a decent living. Those that will survive are those who <br>made sensible business decisions, such as grouping deliveries, <br>eliminating non-productive services, and limiting on-site visits to <br>client schools. This also includes pruning the client list of those <br>groups that do not make a concerted effort to succeed with their <br>project. This comes back to the sponsor and the members of the group <br>being committed to the project's success and taking the steps, no <br>matter how much effort is involved, to ensure success.<p>Here's what to expect:<br> • Fewer families will participate in your fundraiser. They will have <br>decided not to participate long before you start your sale.<p> • People will favor the lower priced items in your offering.<p> • Limitations on replacement of missing and damaged items, with <br>deadlines.<p> • More "hands on" work for your volunteers--unloading the truck, <br>organizing the delivery, handing out products<p> • Deadlines on turning in your orders beyond which no late orders <br>will be accepted<p> • Delivery dates based on economical transportation, including <br>grouped deliveries on a "route."<p> • Declining effectiveness of prizes, parties, and other "extrinsic" <br>motivation in promoting your project<p> • Increasing importance of getting your members, parents, or <br>constituents to "buy in" to the reason you are raising money.<p> • A call from your community for greater accountability in spending <br>the funds raised.<p>Here's what to look for:<br> • A product source (fundraising warehouse point) no more than one <br>day's delivery time from your location.<p> • Food products manufactured in your part of the country. Product <br>value does not come from higher transportation costs.<p> • A company able to produce a "cover letter" explaining why it is <br>important to each person reading to support your cause.<p> • Someone to "teach you how to fish" rather than someone who will <br>"hand you a fish." The difference is in the details.<p> • Products with more reasonable retail prices and lower profit <br>margins for your group. This is what will sell.<p>Remember--<br> • The only dollars you are working with are those dollars the person <br>"at the door" is willing to surrender to buy your products.<p> • People will only buy if they want to help your group more than they <br>want to keep their money. Desire for the product is inconsequential.<p> • The fundraising product does not "give" you profit. You earn it.<p> • All companies are in business to make a profit for the company and <br>a living for its employees. If this fails the company closes and <br>everyone loses.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-56899327029271562542008-08-11T11:27:00.001-04:002008-08-11T11:27:26.038-04:00Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; ">Just about everyone in the fundraising industry says the same thing. Most organizations are slow in making decisions about fundraising projects this year. Some organizations are finding it difficult to find volunteers to staff their projects, while others are taking a "wait and see" stance toward the economy. It is likely that gas prices and rising food prices will have an impact on people's attitudes about spending, but we have not seen any real impact on fundraising sales yet. We do see a trend toward frozen foods and $1 chocolate bars. Adding World's Finest Chocolate to our local mix of products has been a very good thing. Most people will have a dollar to spend and will enjoy the quality and taste of the chocolate, especially as it is a larger bar for the money than most retail brands. Our frozen food sales have been increasing also. Our brochure prices were locked in back in November of 2007, and our costs from suppliers were based on futures prices at that time, so now as grocery store prices rise, our frozen food prices are becoming ever more attractive to consumers, and our fundraising client groups are reaping the benefits.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; ">If your organization is thinking about a giftwrap catalog, jewelry,<font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Lucida Grande'"> </font>flower bulbs, or any other nonfood take-order program, the time to act<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>is now, as brochures will soon be sold out. Many of the gift and wrap<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>items are imported from the orient and there is a finite supply in<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>warehouses in this country and not enough lead time to bring in more.<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>If you wait past September first, you should probably opt for our<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>frozen food program, domestically produced cheese/sausage/chocolate,<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>or chocolate bars. That way you will be assured of receiving your<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>product in a timely fashion. There were many horror stories in the<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>fall of 2007 about other companies not delivering on time.<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>Fortunately we did not have that problem because we stopped accepting<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>reservations when we saw that available inventories were close to<span style="font: 16.0px Lucida Grande"> </span>committed.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; ">Decisions, decisions, decisions. The time to decide is right now.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512623122030222171.post-8665023053612365892008-05-16T08:27:00.001-04:002008-05-16T08:27:55.702-04:00Frozen Food Sales are UP!Just this month we had two of our "regular" clients show increases in <br>sales, even in light of high gas prices and increasing food prices. <br>Our frozen food suppliers have already locked in prices of ingredients <br>based on commodity futures, so we know we have a stable price <br>structure, and as prices of other items go up, our prices remain low. <br>Frozen foods for fundraising become ever more attractive to the end <br>consumer as prices at the pump and the supermarket go up. In <br>addition, we communicated the NEED for funds to the community on both <br>of these MAY sales. Both groups were school groups, and running <br>school sales in May is generally considered an exercise in futility, <br>but both of these sales were overwhelming successes. We can't <br>generalize from just two examples, but feel that we just may have <br>found the path to success for all our client groups in this difficult <br>economy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0