He Needs Ideas to Raise Money for a School Drama Program Trip to NYC

Hi PapaBear!

I'm trying to raise money for a music/drama class trip to the NYC. 

Here's the Letter.

December 2, 2014

Dear Papabear,

Coming this spring, April 2015, there is an opportunity for students involved in the Briggsdale High School Drama program to attend the Broadway Student Summit workshops in New York, New York. This opportunity is very exciting for the students to observe and participate in drama and the theatrical arts at its finest. Being from a very small rural community, this opportunity comes very rarely for many students who attend this school. It is exciting that over 50 percent of the students who attend Briggsdale High School are involved in the drama program, and they will be able to learn and apply their new found knowledge and skills about drama and acting. 

Students will attend workshops that will enhance their acting and theatrical ability. Some workshops include: Vocal Interpretation, Stage Combat, Acting Techniques, and even will attend a Musical Theatre Audition Class. Another highlight of this trip will be going to a Broadway production, Les Miserables, and interact with Broadway cast members. 

This is an incredible opportunity in which our high school students will participate. However, with many great opportunities, comes great cost. The drama program and students are expected to raise enough money to be able to participate in this incredible event. 

Would you please consider sponsoring us financially so students would be able to participate in this opportunity? Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go completely for funding this experience. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Briggsdale Drama Club

So if you have any suggestions or help for my/our fundraising.?

Thanks,
Failaria Talerum (age 16)

* * *

Dear Failaria,

That's a wonderful opportunity for you, and I hope you make it there. There's a great performing arts program here in my valley, too, with students trying to raise money to go to New York City and see Broadway shows and also get behind-the-scenes looks into the production of a Broadway play.

When I was in school and there was a program to raise money, it usually involved me and my peers going door-to-door selling candy and whatnot. You can also try having a local fundraiser, such as a car wash, bake sale, garage sales, and the like. 

You and your fellow students could partner with a company that sells products, part of the money from which goes to your trip. Companies that partner with students for fundraisers include:

• Sell candles and other related items from Yankee Candles. 

• Sell restaurant gift cards 

• Con Yeager offers spices for fundraisers 
• Or create school logo items at the School Spirit Store 
• And there are catch-all sites like ABC Fundraising that list a whole bunch of different products you can sell. (They are not BBB accredited, so be a little cautious here, although I have found no complaints against ABC, either.)

There are also websites where you simply set up a page and ask people for money for your cause, which can be almost anything. Some examples are GoFundMe.com and GiveForward.com. These sites allow you to set up a donation page, which you can then tell people about on places like Facebook or other social sites.

One more option would be to set up your own website and put a donate button on the site. If you use PayPal, you can set up a direct link with your bank, generate html code, and insert that into your website.

Hopefully, this will give you some ideas to help. Run these by your school teachers and your parents to get their input.

Good luck!
Papabear