Whether you’re a teacher, a counselor, or any other person who cares
about kids, we’re sure you realize the importance of health and drug education
materials. But perhaps you feel as though your hands are tied because your school,
church, or community lacks the budget for such products. This can be discouraging,
but we want to assure you that it doesn’t mean you can’t obtain
what’s important for the kids around you. Here are some tips to get you
started.
A Working Team
You don’t have to face the daunting task of raising money on your own.
Instead, make fundraising a joint effort. Not only will the workload be easier
with a team of workers, but it’s also a great way to get others involved
and enthusiastic about drug and health education.
Start by obtaining the support of your fellow teachers, co-workers,
and their families. It’s also important to get your students
and their parents involved. Everyone can help out according to their
talents and interests. The adults might be able to act as sponsors for a one-time
event or be involved in an ongoing project, and the students can fill a variety
of roles. Having others involved will keep them informed about what’s
going on and help strengthen the message you’re trying to get across.
The majority of your funding will probably come from local sources,
including local businesses, community and civic groups, local health agencies,
school organizations, social service departments, and churches. Contact them
about supporting your program. Keep in mind that they aren’t limited to
monetary donations. For example, they might be willing to donate items for a
silent auction or help spread the word about a particular event.
And don’t forget to contact the media. The local newspaper and
television news are great ways to publicize what’s going on in
your school, church, or community. Let the local community know that health
and drug education is important to you, and invite everyone to come and support
the program.
Fundraising Ideas
There are a number of creative ways to raise money, and you can begin right
in your own community. Some traditional fundraising events are bake
sales and yard sales. Recruit as many people as you
can to contribute. They can bake cupcakes or cookies, rummage through their
attic for yard sale items, help promote the event, or be willing to just come
and participate.
Another option is to work together with the English teacher or music teacher
to come up with a special program presented by the students,
perhaps a play or a musical event. Sell tickets to the community, and let them
know that the proceeds will go for drug and health education.
You might also want to consider having a silent auction during
the intermission of a school event. The items can be many and varied, from gift
certificates to books to health club memberships to household items. And if
you can get people or businesses to donate the items to begin with, you’ll
be making a 100 percent profit.
If you’re part of an accredited school with any class from kindergarten
to eighth grade, you can also participate in the Box
Tops for Education program. All you have to do is call (1-888-799-2444)
and have your school enrolled in the program. Then ask your students, their
families, your co-workers, and church and community members to participate.
Box Tops are on many of the brands they use every day, so the project won’t
cost them a thing. Each Box Tops coupon equals 10 cents, and your school can
earn up to $20,000 annually.
If you decide you’d like to try sales, here are a few places to get
you started. Fund-raising.com is
a Web site that allows you to check out products and receive free information
and samples from its member organizations. You’ll have access to companies
carrying numerous products, including frozen cookie dough, mugs, pens, cookbooks,
socks, pizza kits, safety products, and more.
Kid Art School Fund Raising is another
program you might want to explore. This program uses your students’ artwork
to create custom gifts, such as T-shirts, mouse pads, coffee mugs, clocks, calendars,
and aprons. Since every item is personalized, the products will be special to
those who purchase them.
Another way to obtain funds is through state and federal grants. If you’re
interested in finding out what’s available, here are some Web sites you
can visit. They include a listing of available grants and the requirements and
procedures, as well as valuable statistics and health information.
The Adolescent Family
Life (Title XX) of the Public Health Service Act supports both demonstration
and research grants. Most of their abstinence education projects target students
ages 9 to 14.
The Division of Adolescent and School
Health is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their
Web site contains Healthy Youth Funding Program (HY-FUND), a database that contains
information on federal, foundation, and state-specific funding sources for school
health programs. The main purpose of the HY-FUND database is to share practical
information about how schools can acquire funds for developing and improving
various components of school health programs.
The mission of the Maternal and Child Health
Bureau (Title V), a bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration,
is to promote and improve the health of mothers and children. One of their major
programs is the Abstinence Education Program.
The federal government also has national programs and state grants for drug
and violence prevention programs. These are sponsored through the Safe
and Drug-Free Schools Program, which uses education and prevention activities
to reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use.
Another source you may want to look into is the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. They are the largest grant-making
agency in the federal government, providing about 60,000 grants each year.
If you’d like to see a listing of more government grants and other funding
opportunities, you can visit the Fundsnet
Online Services. This Web site includes a wide variety of resource information,
including government grants, creative ideas, links to companies, and online
resource books on fundraising.
The Bottom Line
We all know that drug and health education is important for kids, so don’t
let the lack of funds keep you away from materials that are beneficial. Instead,
get as many people involved as you can, and explore the options. The ideas listed
here are to help you get started, but there are many more ways of fundraising.
Use your creativity, and have fun while you work. Remember, your kids need you.
Other Information Sources
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