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• Goals
• Calendar of Events
• Tuition Donation and Teacher Training Fund
• Fundraise while you shop at the Food Store
• Tax Reimbursement
• Donation Receipt Form (28 KB)

Goals

There are three targets for fundraising efforts at FEELC, which are to provide:

• funds for school equipment not covered by the operating budget
• funds for teacher development and training
• discretionary funds for the Director to cover costs of materials used in Parent projects, and food for FE events.

We strive to make sure that such efforts be:

• cost and time effective
• provide 'products' that people want, ie good participation
• provide 'products' that people outside FE may purchase
• when possible, use such efforts to enrich the FE experience
• most importantly, fundraising should be 'Fun'

FEELC is grateful for the outstanding participation and generosity of FE parents and friends.

Calendar of Events

Tuition Donation and Teacher Training Fund

First Environments maintains an active fund-raising program with the aim to raise funds targeting two specific areas:

• Needs of the children not covered by tuition
• Staff training and development

In principle, we endeavor to design fund-raising efforts that provide goods that folks really want (T-shirts, Holiday trees, etc), yet not be intrusive or disruptive. It is clear that FE has a great group of parents and we truly appreciate everything that our families do to support the center!

Much of our recent fundraising efforts have been targeted at aim (i), namely to furbish the increased number of classrooms in the new FE building with toys, books, etc. However, the Center Director, Beth, and the Board have acknowledged that our second aim needs urgent attention and focus.

Historically, Staff funding for training and development was provided for within the FE Center budget. But over the last couple of years this has been cut substantially to minimize increases in tuition rates.

It is clear that providing opportunities for teachers to attend seminars and participate in programs concerning new or alternative teaching practices are important to maintain and develop the high standards that we have come to expect from FE staff.

In order to achieve this aim, we would like to introduce three initiatives for parents to consider and participate in.

(1) Donation by direct deposit specifically for training

Starting in October, families may elect to give additional money to the center along with their tuition payment, and this money would go directly to a training fund. For example, a family can elect to donate $1, $2, or any amount that they feel comfortable with to the staff training fund. This money will then be automatically withdrawn along with their biweekly tuition draft.

If you wish to participate in this program, you should download and complete the "Authorization Agreement" [PDF], and return it to Beth or Trudi. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Beth, Trudi, or any of the Board members.

(2) Making your mark on the new FE Center

We are in the process of developing opportunities for families to "leave their mark" at First Environments, and help the center at the same time. The opportunities include the ability of families to "buy" a piece of the new First Environments home, which include purchasing a decorative tile (potentially displayed in entrance foyer), and possibly the scale of a dinosaur in the new playground. In both cases the family name will be included. These options are currently being explored, and any feedback would be appreciated so that we can gauge the level of interest.

(3) Soon-to-be alumni parents

When families have children graduating from First Environments to kindergarten they often try to think of a way to give something back to the center as a "thank you" for all that the staff have done for their family. Gifts for the teachers are nice and always appreciated, but, parents may be looking for a way to do something on top of that; looking for a way to give something back to the center in general, something that would benefit all staff and future families.

Given the ongoing need to find resources for training, this seems like the perfect opportunity to satisfy some parent's desire to "give back" to the center as their children leave, with a real need that the center has for training budget. To this end, there are a few proposals being put forward on ways that a family could make a monetary donation to a training fund when their child(ren) leaves the center:

• Parents could donate their deposit check to the training fund
• Parents could donate an additional tuition payment to the training fund
• Parents could write a separate check to go into the teacher training fund

These options could be made available as choices on the form that is used to request the return of the deposit (completed when a family notifies the center that a child will be leaving).

Parent Feedback

These are new initiatives for targeting funds to Staff training and development. We believe that this is important, and we would like your feedback. While we will ensure that families are aware of these opportunities, participation will be purely voluntary with no pressure for folks to participate.

Please provide your feedback to Beth, Trudi, or any of the Board Members

Fundraise while you shop at the Food Store

Here are some of ways in which you can help raise funds for First Environments while you shop:

Harris Teeter: TIE (Together in Education) program

Before you check out your groceries, give the cashier this number 5469 together with your VIC card.

You only have to give this number once for subsequent visits. Of the HT brand purchases you make, 2% of the value will go to FE.

Food Lion Shop&Share: MVP card users

To enroll in this program, please call the following Customer Service number: 1-704-633-8250 ext.3810.

Again, you will only have to do this once. Food Lion will make a cash donation to FE depending on volume of use.

Kroger Plus Card for Education

Before you check out your groceries, have the cashier scan the bar code below together with your Kroger Plus Card.

You only need the bar code scanned once, not for subsequent visits. Use of your card this way will earn credit for FE towards free educational equipment.

Note: if print copy of the bar code does not scan properly, original copies can be obtained from the FEELC office.

Tax Reimbursement

Download a copy of the Donation Receipt Form (28 KB)

Tax-deductible Information

Visit or Return to . . .

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