As a child I remember the most meaningful school mementos were mugs and holiday ornaments that featured my self-portraits and original artwork. I kept this in mind while on the hunt for creative school fundraising ideas. I searched for useful, worthwhile products that would encourage healthy living that met my effort-to-payoff ratio.
To my delight I discovered a fabulous business that helps families fundraise in a fun, creative, community driven way. Portrait Press Fundraising, a business started by a fellow parent, does just that. Their products are useful and practical, but quite creative and celebrate the community more than the usual school merchandise. Portrait Press offers printing on high-quality, eco-friendly textiles like tea towels, pillow cases and cotton tote bags. The artwork celebrates the unique spirit of each year’s student class while creating a memorable keepsake for friends and family.
The process is super easy and goes like this. The fundraising coordinator signs up to receive a free kit in the mail. Once that arrives, they visit the classrooms with all the necessary tools (product templates, adhesive paper, and detailed instructions) and have the kids draw little self-portraits, hand prints or favorite moments from the year on small pieces of paper. When these are done, the coordinator sticks them onto the template included in the kit and mails it back to Portrait Press Fundraising. They email back a proof of the finished design; once the design has been approved, they print it on the product of the coordinators choice (tea towel, pillow case, cotton tote bag) in the quantity of their choice. The products arrive in about four weeks.
Here is a brief video that shows how it works from start to finish.
The time and effort involved on the part of the coordinator is minimal and the profit return is fabulous. Portrait Press Fundraising has thoughtfully set their costs low so schools can double their money.
The folks from Portrait Press Fundraising are so dedicated to community that as part of their commitment to kids and schools, they apply part of the proceeds of each purchase to a grant supporting the arts in U.S. schools and partner with programs improving access to education for children worldwide.
With the continued threat of major budget cuts these days, North Shore Parents with kids in public or private school are constantly on the lookout for creative, new ways to help schools raise money. Find out more about Portrait Press Fundraising's services and fundraising opportunities offered by visiting portraitpressfundraising.com and be sure to introduce Portrait Press Fundraising to your school at the next fundraising meeting.