Countryside Elementary School PTO, Fundraising

The PTO holds fundraisers to support curriculum, provide for enrichment programs such as the city-mandated Creative Arts and Sciences, and offer community-building events. To provide these programs and equipment for the school, each year the Countryside PTO needs to raise approximately $135 per student. We are able to cover our costs through three main fundraisers: The Annual Fund, our Rockin' Raffle, and one additional event.

View a larger version of the PTO Expenses chart.

2016-17 Annual Fund

What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is the Countryside PTO's biggest fundraiser and accounts for approximately 40% of our annual budget. It is voluntary and tax-deductible.

How much should I give?
The PTO budget for the school year is the equivalent of approximately $135 per student.

Each family has its own obligations and expenses. Please contribute an amount that is comfortable for you!

How do I make a donation?

Complete the form on the Annual Fund brochure [PDF], attach a personal check, and either send it in your child's folder or put it in the PTO box outside the school office OR
Donate by credit or debit card using the PayPal donate button to the right.

What about matching gifts?
Double or triple your gift at no additional cost to you! See our list of Massachusetts employers that match donations [PDF] or check with your company's HR department to see if they offer a matching program. If you need to register the PTO with your company, our official name is "Countryside Elementary School PTO Inc.," and our tax ID number is 201-936-829. Countryside PTO is a 501(c)(3) organization.

How are PTO contributions used?
The PTO works directly with the Countryside principal and faculty to determine what our school needs. Every dollar funds projects that benefit Countryside students, faculty, and staff. In addition to our yearly expenditures, the PTO made significant investments last year to improve the school grounds, and to purchase equipment, technology, and curriculum-related supplies. Some investments that were a direct result of your contributions to our fundraisers include:

A mini-grants program for teachers to pay for innovative curriculum-related initiatives
Books and an eLibrary to expand our library
US and world pull-down maps for grades 3-5
Additional laptop cart and charging station
Laptops to replace aging computers for the 3rd grade
New, larger outdoor soccer goals
New gym mats and equipment
Additional bike rack to encourage riding to school
Landscaping to improve and beautify the school grounds

Everyday Shopping You can help support Countryside, at no cost to you, when you start your everyday shopping by clicking the links below.
Amazon.com If you use the Amazon4Countryside link to go to Amazon.com every time you shop, Countryside will receive 4%-8% of your purchase price. You can also click on the link and then bookmark the page where you land. Then, just use the bookmark every time you go to Amazon.com, and Countryside will get a percentage of your purchase price. Note: On Amazon.com, you will not see anything specific to indicate that the purchases will be credited to Countryside.
Box Top Campaign Drop those General Mills box tops in the collection box outside of the main office. Want to save while helping the school? Sign up at www.boxtops4education.com. You will receive coupons and see the current funds raised through this effort.
Labels for Education Clip Labels for Education from participating products and send them to school. Brands include Campbell's, Post, Pepperidge Farms, V8, and Pop Secret. Look for the collection box outside the school office. Visit the Labels for Education site to get a list of participating products and to find out about bonus offers.
Target When you sign up for the Target Take Charge of Education® program, Countryside receives a percentage of each purchase you make with your Target REDcard® including the Target Credit Card®, Target Debit Card®, and Target Visa®. You can go directly to the enrollment page, where you can search for Countryside by name or use the School ID number (59740) to link Countryside to your card. If you prefer, you can also enroll by calling 1-800-316-6142. Registering costs you nothing and earns money for our school!

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