Beach PTO display fund plaques in school
Beach Elementary School officials have found a new, creative and visual way of praising their superlative contributing businesses from their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Five fund plaques are on display in the reception area at the Beach school and boast the “Elite Sponsors” from last year’s Beach Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization Golf Tournament and Pre-Golf Tournament Blowout.
The five fund plaques are titled “The World of Reading Fund,” “Bringing Outside Arts In Fund,” “Technology/Software Fund,” “School Beautification Fund” and “5th Grade Graduation Fund.”
Teacher Kathy Trent, president of the Beach Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, said PTO member Ginger Weber was the brainchild for the fund plaques.
“I believe she was the one who came up with the idea as a new way of raising funds for the golf tournament. She picked five areas that she thought the school would really need help with,” said Trent.
Before the fund plaque idea, golf event sponsors were recognized by different tiers to designate their monetary contributions.
“Instead of somebody just donating money, the (elite sponsors) will know where their money will go towards,” Trent said. “It’s nice to recognize these people. A $1,000 donation is a lot of money to a school.”
Trent explained what each of the involved fundraising avenues would aid in. For example, Reading would help Book Battle, Accelerated Reading or library books; Outside Arts in community theaters or other art groups coming into school grounds to perform; Technology in criterion writing, third grade level Virtual math and other grade’s needs; Beautification in planted trees or improving the landscape on school grounds; and Graduation in enabling the fifth graders to have their end-of-school graduation and activities.
So far, each plaque bears one business for each subject: The World of Reading Fund has Bonita Dental Care ($1,000 contribution); Bringing Outside Arts In Fund has Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation ($1,000 contribution); Technology/Software Fund has Nervous Nellies Crazy Waterfront Eatery ($1,000 contribution); School Beautification Fund has Sarah Lynch Counseling ($1,000 contribution); and 5th Grade Graduation Fund has Beach Kiwanis ($1,700 contribution).
“Beach Kiwanis usually pay for the bus for the fifth grade field trip,” said Trent. “Now, they are donating it to the fund.”
Whoever donates $1,000 or more for next year’s golf tournament (scheduled in May) will have their name put on the plaque.
“When we get ready to do the golf fund, we will send out information through Constant Contact (an email, event, and social media marketing tool) and phone calls,” said Trent.
Beach Elementary Principal Larry Wood is grateful for all supporters and calls the plaques a “sampling of the support” that comes their way.
“We are very fortunate that people in this community support us to the degree that they do,” he said. “I’m proud to display these plaques in our office. I hope everybody gets a chance to see them.”