Whether it’s a sock hop, a themed dance or just an occasion to shake the legs, a school dance is always fun. Kids love dancing around to their favorite music. Here is a great opportunity to turn a fun, appropriate group activity into a fundraiser for kids.
Set this fundraiser dance to correspond with a Saturday night. This way it gives teachers and parents the opportunity to participate at a time when work or school duties won’t interfere. Make sure it’s announced in advance how long the party will last. This can be done by sending out a school announcement. Have the kids take these home to their parents, so they will be aware there is a curfew time and that their kids will need to be picked up by the end of the dance.
Volunteers to set up and clean up will be needed, a DJ acquired to run the show (see if a talented high school kid is willing to take this gig) and chaperones as well. Have a local community ladies’ group pitch in and do a table of baked goodies and punch. You can trade services – have the school children volunteer cleanup at their next function!
Find a photographer who’ll take pictures for you and who’ll be willing to donate time and photos for free. If you have a parent or know a member of the faculty who can take photos, this will save money. If not, then hire a photographer to take formal pictures of the kids as they come into the dance. After the photos of all who are attending has been taken, the photographer can move about taking random pictures of the event.
This fundraiser works by selling photos at the dance itself of posed shots ( a stage can be set in a corner for this) and by getting the parents to buy a memory book compiled from the best photos taken during the event. You can have it set up for parents to purchase the book ahead of time, and send reminders home so they send money the night of the dance. When the book has been assembled, it can be easily distributed to the purchasers, and a few extra copies made to sell to those who missed the chance to order.
Ask for volunteers (teachers, kids and parents) to take on the task of putting the books together. Hobby stores or craft stores will have all the necessary things needed to put them together. See if you can get the material to put them together donated – or even check with a local print shop to see if they would donate services to bind the books for you.
A school dance can be a lot of fun when properly given. It’s also a good opportunity to raise those funds as has been mentioned. Just play it safe and things will run smoothly. The kids will have a blast dancing the night away and fun memories will be had with the memory books.
