Alberta Fundraising Guide by Habitat Systems Inc.

PLAYGROUND FUNDRAISING GUIDE School Fundraising Success Stories

Copyright ÂŠ 2012 by Habitat Systems Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this Playground Fundraising Guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, or otherwise), without the prior written permission from Habitat Systems Inc. If you received this publication from anyone other than Habitat System Inc., please contact us at info@habitat-systems.com. Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience. Although the author and publisher have made every reasonable attempt to achieve complete accuracy of the content in this Guide, they assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if we use one of these terms.

table of contents 1 Beach Grove Elementary Delta

3 Braemar Elementary North Vancouver

5 Cataline Elementary Williams Lake

7 Cedar Grove Elementary Gibsons

9 Gilmore Community School Burnaby

11 Hastings Elementary Vancouver

13 Kerrisdale Elementary Vancouver

We understand that finding ways to gather funds can be challenging. Habitat Systems has created this guide for schools who are investigating ways in which they may be able to raise funds for their playstructures. We hope that this guide, which provides real life examples of schools who were able to make their playground dreams a reality, functions as a source of inspiration and idea generation. If you would like to discuss in more detail some of the fundraising sources that the schools have used in this guide, their contact information is listed at the top of each success story. The success of this guide depends on schools communicating details of their successful fundraising ventures to inspire others. We hope that these stories provide valuable insight and ideas which, in return, will allow you to pass on your success story. When your project is completed, please take the time to share it with us, so that others may benefit. Upon completion of your project, please fill out the Client Project form on page 23.

13 Kerrisdale Annex Elementary Vancouver

appendix

C.lient Project Form (please fill this form out when

Lord Kitchener Elementary Vancouver

Habitat’s 100% Fundraising Program

Beach Grove - Survey Example

Watson Elementary - Equipment Voting Form

27 .

Kerrisdale Elementary School - Example

Kerrisdale Elementary School - Fundraising Letter

17 Victor School Victoria

your project is complete)

Donation Form Example

Watson Elementary • email Habitat today for list of grants that your school may be able to apply for • Chilliwack

* email Habitat today for list of grants that your school may be able to apply for

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BEACH GROVE ELEMENTARY 5955 17A Avenue Delta, BC V4L 1J7

Contact: Laura Dixon / lauradixon@dccnet.com

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Beach Grove Elementary 3D play pieces

Located in sunny Tsawwassen, Beach Grove Elementary’s playground is used year round by students at the school, as well as the surrounding community at large. Visiting the school on a hot day in mid-summer, you can view many children enjoying the range of equipment that this site has to offer - including a climbing net! Many of the playgrounds in Delta were installed approximately 25 years ago, and Beach Grove was no exception. The concentration of playground installations at this time happened as a result of the traffic tunnel being built into the heart of the city. Increased access raised the awareness, population levels, and the need for playgrounds in this area. Now, 25 years later, and with changes in safety compliances, many of these playgrounds needed to be replaced at the same time. The school district informed schools that if any of the main supports were damaged on their old playgrounds, the whole structure would require replacement. This resulted in many groups in the area trying to raise funds simultaneously. Beach Grove knew that with so many groups competing for community funds that they needed to gain strong support for their project. The PAC group for this school of 300 surveyed their parents and teachers to ensure that there was majority support for the playground project (see Appendix for a copy of Beach Grove’s survey, on page 25). The survey results came back with over 90% of parents in favour of purchasing new playground equipment. Having the support from the parents for playground funding was important because the funds could have gone towards other items needed, such as computers and other classroom tools. With the PAC having teacher support, it ensured that they could communicate as a team to the students. When it was determined that the playground would be used by the community essentially as a city park, this broadened access to groups that they could ask for support from. The PAC group’s effectiveness in raising community support can be seen in the Drop Shot donation from the local Lions Club. Once all funds were raised, the PAC had the children vote on designs which further increased excitement for the project.

“Holding event-based fundraisers eliminates the selling of products to families. When holding and choosing events, choose activities that all families can take part in, regardless of their personal financial background. It is important for families not to feel extreme pressure to donate. If more time is needed to complete your project, that should be acceptable.” - Laura Dixon www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com 1

$29,415 - PROJECT & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Supply and Installation of Playground Equipment ............................................................................... $23,683.14 Surfacing – 1/3 provided by School District and 2/3 provided by PAC ....... included in above amount Site Preparation – provided by School District ...................................................................................................... $0 Landscaping/Borders - donated or provided by School District ................................................................... $0 Taxes.......................................................................................................................................................................... $5,732.46 Total ............................................................................................................................................... $29,415.60

Fundraising Information Existing PAC Funds ......................................................................................................................................... $10,000.00 Student Toonie Campaign ................................................................................................................................ $2,015.60 Spring Pub Night with Class Basket Auction ........................................................................................... $8,100.00 Fall Dinner, Silent Auction, Live Auction, 50/50 Draw and Balloon Pop ...................................... $9,300.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................... $29,415.60 Total........................................................................................................................................................................................... .$29,415.60

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BRAEMAR ELEMENTARY 3600 Mahon Avenue North Vancouver, BC V7N 3T6

Contact: Jacqui Stuart / jacquistuart@shaw.ca

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Braemar Elementary Playground 3D Image The Braemar Elementary fundraising efforts took place over the course of two and a half years. Headed by Jacqui Stuart and Kelley Gramblin, this group started with no money in the bank and set a goal of raising $85,000. Their most successful event, Parent Gala Nights, raised a total of $48,000 ($25,000 one year and $23,000 the next). The themes of these events were “Putting on the Ritz” and “Black and White Ball”. Over 200 people attended each of these galas, where high quality and exciting items were auctioned off. Tickets were sold at $40 each which resulted in a profit for the PAC group of $20 per ticket. To gather donations, a PowerPoint presentation was created to present to possible auction item donors. These first-class events with their very unique touches (red carpet entrances, live bands, martini bars and wine tasting) were regarded as true Gala Nights. At one of the Gala Nights, silhouettes of each of the school’s children were hung up on the walls to really push the idea that these funds were going towards something that would directly benefit their community and families. During the planning for this playground project, specific goals were set in regards to the desired outcomes. Two other successful events coordinated by this school included a Halloween Event and a Tile Sale. For the Halloween event, over 500 tickets were sold at a cost of $5 each. The school was turned into a haunted house with a variety of participation activities including an apple bobbing station, pumpkin carving station, and prizes for best costume. At a 60% profit, this school’s Tile Sale raised $9,000. The tiles, which could be purchased for $100 by a donor, were later placed in the front of the school.

INSIDER TIP! “If you are going to have any type of auction, set up a website so that people can browse through the available items prior to the event.” - Jacqui Stuart www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

$75,368 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment ................................................................................................................................... $49,615.90 Site Preparation and Supervised Install .................................................................................................... $4,000.00 Benches...................................................................................................................................................................... $1,193.28 Surfacing ................................................................................................................................................................ $6,075.05 Borders.................................................................................................................................................................... $6,759.20 Taxes........................................................................................................................................................................... $7,725.21 Total............................................................................................................................................... $75,368.64

Fundraising Information GRASS ROOTS EVENTS .............................................................................................................................. $65,000.00 Parent Gala #1 - $25,000.00 Parent Gala #2 - $23,000.00 Christmas Event - $4,000.00 Halloween Event - $3,000.00 Tile Sale - $9,000.00 Bingo Night - $1,000.00 GRANTS ............................................................................................................................................................. $20,000.00 Total................................................................................................ $85,000 ($10,000 extra funds raised) Total..................................................................................................................................................................... .$85,000 ($10,000 extra funds raised)

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CATALINE ELEMENTARY 1175 Blair Street Williams Lake, BC V2G 3X1

Contact: Tina Benedet / (250) 398-8732

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Cataline Elementary Playground 3D Image

Over the course of a year and a half, the PAC group at Cataline Elementary was able to raise enough funds for their playground. With a PAC of between 15 and 20 members, which fluctuated due to new members and people who had to leave during the school year, they were able to raise over $40,000. When fundraising for a playground project, it is important to think about some of the extras, as well as the sometimes unanticipated costs that can arise, such as food and meals for volunteers, handiform tubes for post holes, and babysitting services for the parent volunteers. Allotting some funds for additional expenses will ensure that all costs are covered. When you are contacting organizations for donations in a weak economy, often the initial response to your request may be negative. If a possible donor is unable to provide an item for an auction or raffle, ask if they would consider donating a discount on a product or service instead. An organization may be more willing to do this because of the possibility that it will not result in a direct monetary loss. For example, you could try having a local hotel in your area donate a 50% off voucher, which could be seen as a valuable item on an auction list. The largest source of funding for the Cataline project came from a $10,000 grant from Shaw Communications (visit www.shaw.ca to see current funding opportunities). Many companies have grant programs, however, if the grants are for relatively smaller amounts, no one usually applies. Applying for every possible grant will increase your odds of gaining funding. Having someone on your PAC team who is a strong writer and committed to applying for grants, will make the application process more efficient. In regards to grass root events, this school found success with Norcard fundraising (www.norcard.ca) which specializes in greeting cards, calendars and stationery products. They assist schools across Canada and the US with fundraising for a wide range of projects. Norcard also offers an incentive program for some of their products and up to 45% of the profit goes to the school.

INSIDER TIP!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always apply for every possible grant that you can. You would be surprised by the amount of smaller grants out there that no one applies for. Every amount counts - it can really add up over time.â&#x20AC;? - Tina Benedet

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$41,688 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment ................................................................................................................................... $34,329.38 Habitat Installation Services ........................................................................................................................... $2,345.04 Site Prep & Landscaping - provided by School District ...................................................................................... $0 Tax on above items ...................................................................................................................................... $4,236.78 Food & Meals for Volunteers .............................................................................................................................. $289.49 Skid Steer, Auger, Laser Level ........................................................................................................................... $280.00 Installation Hardware (stakes, 2x4’s) .................................................................................................................. $38.71 Handiform Tubes (for post holes) ..................................................................................................................... $125.89 Babysitting for community installation volunteers (supplies & appreciation) .................................... $43.61 Total ............................................................................................................................................... $41,688.90

Fundraising Information Shaw Communications ................................................................................................................................... $10,000.00 Kiwanis Club of Williams Lake ...................................................................................................................... $5,000.00 Williams Lake & District Credit Union ......................................................................................................... $2,500.00 West Fraser Truckers Association ............................................................................................................... $2,000.00 Direct Access Grants (‘06 - ‘09) .................................................................................................................... $11,507.96 Craft Fair (‘07 & ‘08) .............................................................................................................................................. $544.28 Craft Fair (‘08 & ‘09) ........................................................................................................................................... $1,020.34 Hot Dog Sales (‘07 & ‘08) ..................................................................................................................................... $350.17 Hot Dog Sales (‘08 & ‘09) .................................................................................................................................... $204.72 Norcard Fundraising (‘07 & ‘08) .................................................................................................................... $2,860.77 Norcard Fundraising (‘08 & ‘09) .................................................................................................................... $1,969.69 Water Bottle (‘07 & ‘08) ..................................................................................................................................... $1,667.84 Water Bottle (‘08 & ‘09) ....................................................................................................................................... $744.52 Scrapbook (‘07 & ‘08) ........................................................................................................................................ $1,640.83 Scrapbook (‘08 & ‘09) ...................................................................................................................................... $2,009.30 Save-On-Foods Gift ................................................................................................................................................ $158.60 Dough Raiser .............................................................................................................................................................. $110.00 Tot.al ...................................................................................... $41,688.90 (+ $2,630.12 extra funds raised)

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CEDAR GROVE ELEMENTARY RR#4 - 1117 Malaview Road Gibsons, BC V0N 1V4

Contact: Diane Henley / wychu@telus.net

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Cedar Grove Elementary Playground 3D Image

7 Local community support was instrumental in the creation of the Cedar Grove Elementary Accessible Playpark. Diane Henley, a retired nurse, and Angela Sears, a former teacher, dedicated their time to this project, and were able to secure funding by researching community foundations, regional and district grants, and provincial funding sources. They discovered during their research that there are some options for funding set aside for universally accessible playground spaces. An important requirement for this community was to have a playground with accessible equipment and surfacing that met the needs of all children of all abilities and their parents. Comprehensive research into the needs of those with mobility and sensory issues was done in order to create an accessible and inclusive venue. Expert advice from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, parents of children with mobility challenges, and adults with physical challenges was received and incorporated into the final plan. The final decision on which exact equipment to install came from the children themselves who voted on equipment options. Two individuals researched and applied for grants, this contributed greatly to the playground becoming a reality. For others embarking on such an initiative, they share that the Internet provided them with some helpful information with regards to writing successful grant applications. When receiving funding opportunities, some funds came through sources which can be commonly overlooked, such as local credit unions and banks. Prior to applying for a variety of grant funding, this school raised a good portion of their own funds through a few other community initiatives including a Silent Auction held in a neighbouring mall. Holding an auction in this high traffic location raised awareness, garnered expert support and raised $12,000 toward their playground.

INSIDER TIP! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Depending on your individual site properties, and the departments you are partnering with for your project, it is essential to delineate responsibility for excavation and site preparation, prior to your equipment installation as this can be a significant budgetary factor to consider.â&#x20AC;? - Diane Henley

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$262,372 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment .................................................................................................................................. $116,874.00 Site Preparation ................................................................................................................................................ $16,000.00 Preparation and Construction of Pathways and Concrete ................................................................ $17,508.00 Landscaping, First Nations Medicine Wheel and Related Pathways ........................................... $13,400.00 Installation ............................................................................................................................................................ $35,129.00 Surfacing: Sof’Fall .............................................................................................................................................. $12,183.00 Installation: Sof’Fall............................................................................................................................................ $4,492.00 Surfacing: Tiles ..................................................................................................................................................... $9,712.00 Installation: Tiles ................................................................................................................................................. $4,490.00 Site Furnishings ................................................................................................................................................ $10,000.00 Recognition Signage ........................................................................................................................................ $4,000.00 Taxes ...................................................................................................................................................................... $18,584.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................ $262,372.00

Fundraising Information Cedar Grove Parent Advisory Council .................................................................................................... $50,065.00 Ministry of Children & Families ................................................................................................................... $42,750.00 Rick Hansen Foundation & Province of BC ........................................................................................... $35,000.00 Telus ..................................................................................................................................................................... $30,000.00 In Kind Donations ............................................................................................................................................. $26,501.00 Playground Grant, BC Gov’t/Solicitor General .................................................................................... $20,000.00 Steve Nash Foundation ................................................................................................................................. $10,000.00 John Hardie Mitchell Family Foundation ................................................................................................ $10,000.00 Government of BC - School Community Connections Program .................................................... $8,000.00 Regional District Grants .................................................................................................................................. $5,000.00 Success by Six .................................................................................................................................................... $4,000.00 Hamber Foundation ......................................................................................................................................... $4,000.00 Private Donors ..................................................................................................................................................... $3,546.00 Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign ......................................................................................................... $3,510.00 Sunshine Coast Credit Union ........................................................................................................................ $3,000.00 Gibsons Rotary ................................................................................................................................................... $2,500.00 BMO Bank of Montreal .................................................................................................................................... $2,000.00 Sunshine Coast Community Foundation ................................................................................................... $1,500.00 Gibsons Lion Club .............................................................................................................................................. $1,000.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................ $262,372.00

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GILMORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL 50 South Gilmore Avenue Burnaby, BC V5C 4P5

Contact: Dale Owen / (604) 664-8708

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Gilmore is a community based school which has found success performing a variety of fundraisers. Their playground, installed in September 2006, was a result of a two-year fundraising effort. The main funding source for this playground came from their annual Walk-a-Thon event which began 12 years ago. At the end of September, a sponsorship package is sent home to parents for this two hour walk which takes place on a portion of the Trans Canada Trail. Anyone who donates over $20 is eligible for a tax receipt for their donation. The route is adjusted based on age range, with grades four to seven walking 10km, grades two and three walking 5 km, and kindergarten and grade ones walking an even shorter distance. At the end of this walk, prizes are awarded to the first intermediate girl and boy to cross the 10km finish line. Other draws also take place for all participants. This type of event meets the school’s fundraising needs, and simultaneously meets one of their school goals for promoting healthy active living. In addition to this event, they also alternate every year between a Spring Carnival and an adult only Silent Auction / Social. The school is turned into a carnival by setting up games in the classrooms and gym. Examples of activities at past events include a climbing wall, pony ride and blow-up giant slides. Parents organize the event, which includes games and a concession. Tickets to play the games are sold at $20 for 40 tickets, with each game requiring anywhere from one to three tickets. At the Silent Auction / Social, donations of cell phones, Nintendo Wii game systems and hotel stays have allowed this school to raise a large amount of funds.

Gilmore School Playground 3D Image

INSIDER TIP! “Our Walk-a-Thon is a really successful event that raises thousands of dollars and supports our mandate of promoting healthy active living.” - Dale Owen

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$18,671 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment ..................................................................................................................................... $16,378.21 Gravel Surfacing - provided by School District ..................................................................................................... $0 Installation - provided by School District ................................................................................................................. $0 Landscaping - provided by Evergreen Fund .......................................................................................................... $0 Taxes ......................................................................................................................................................................... $2,292.94 Total ................................................................................................................................................. $18,671.15

Fundraising Information GRASS ROOTS EVENTS ................................................................................................................................. $13,245.00 Walk-a-Thons (two events) - $6,923.00 Pub Night / Raffle - $6,322.00 GRANTS & FUNDS ............................................................................................................................................. $3,500.00 Miscellaneous - $1,926.15 Landscaping - provided by Evergreen Fund - $0 Gravel Surfacing - provided by School District - $0 Installation - provided by School District - $0 GST - covered by School District ....................................................................................................................... $780.15 PST - covered by School District .................................................................................................................... $1,146.00 Total ................................................................................................................................................. $18,671.15

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HASTINGS ELEMENTARY 2625 Franklin Street Vancouver, BC V5K 3W7

Contact: Barbara Meihuizen / meihuizen@telus.net

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One of the key components to completing a playground project is raising awareness among possible donors and creating excitement about the project. This can be accomplished by ensuring that your end goal is “front and centre”, which is literally what Hastings Elementary School in Vancouver did. Their dream playground was produced on large colour poster boards (supplied by Habitat), which were displayed at the entrance of the school. As students entered and exited each day, they were reminded of their goal. The design was also reviewed during assemblies as a further reminder. A staff member at Hastings challenged the 750 students at the school – “You raise $15,000 and I will shave my head!” When a teacher says that she will shave her head - it definitely gets students excited. Not only did this teacher lose her lovely locks, the students exceeded their challenge by $3,000. The children were so eager about the project that many personally gave from their own allowances, birthday gifts and money they had earned from odd jobs. In addition to current students, past students were contacted and invited to a Centennial Celebration. Over 200 alumni attended, which raised further awareness in the local community and resulted in profits totaling $5,000.

Hastings Elementary School Playground 3D Image

INSIDER TIP! “When we started our new playground process, our target price tag was set at $40,000. The playground concept presented by Habitat was considerably more, at $75,000. Although it seemed a daunting amount of money to raise, Habitat designed the best possible playground to fit the space, and we went ahead and presented it to the community. I believe that because the playground looked “grand”, everyone involved felt a great sense of excitement. Paradoxically, it may have been easier to raise $75,000 for something really great, than it would have been to raise $40,000 for something average. Therefore, my advice is to dream big!” - Barbara Meihuizen

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$75,000 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment ................................................................................................................................. $67,000.00 Installation of Equipment – provided by School District ................................................................................... $0 Surfacing – provided by School District ................................................................................................................... $0 Site Preparation – provided by School District ..................................................................................................... $0 Landscaping – provided by School District ............................................................................................................ $0 Taxes ....................................................................................................................................................................... $8,000.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................. $75,000.00

Fundraising Information Matching Government Gaming Grant ..................................................................................................... $20,000.00 DIRECT DONATIONS & GRASS ROOT EVENTS ................................................................................. $55,000.00 Head Shaving Challenge - $18,000 Walk-a-Thon - $8,000 Centennial Celebrations - $5,000 Corporate Donation - $12,000 Silent Auction - $4,550 PAC Fundraising – Plant Sales & Portion of Operating Grant - $7,000 Donations From The Students - $450 Total ............................................................................................................................................. $75,000.00

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KERRISDALE

KERRISDALE ANNEX

(604) 263-2391

(604) 261-6111

5555 Carnarvon Street Vancouver, BC V6N 1J2

5901 Balaclava Street Vancouver, BC V6N 1L3

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In March of 2007, Kerrisdale Annex began their fundraising efforts to install a new playground. With $40,000 in the PAC funds already, they were off to a good start with their project. It was only a few months later that their sister school’s playground, at Kerrisdale Elementary, was condemned and needed to be replaced as well. With both playgrounds now needing replacement, the playground committees at these schools joined forces and molded into one group. Together they announced a fundraising goal of $85,000, for a total project value of over $100,000. These schools were able to meet their goals through multiple fundraising initiatives including donation requests from the 440 families at the schools, hot dog sales, lunch programs, chocolate sales, Entertainment Book sales and magazine subscriptions. Their most successful fundraising effort was the donation letter which was sent to every family at the school (see appendix for a copy of this letter and the donation form, page 27, 28). This letter requested a suggested donation of $100 per child towards the new playgrounds. An envelope addressed to the school was included to make the donation process easier. To make the package more exciting for the children, each included a balloon supplied by Habitat Systems. One of the PAC members commented that the balloons floated around peoples’ homes for weeks and functioned as a constant reminder of the donation request. Some families found very creative ways of raising funds, such as hosting a dinner at their house and asking guests to donate the amount that they would normally spend on a nice meal in a restaurant. While the school asked for a suggested amount ($100) in their letter, they noted clearly that any donation was appreciated. Approximately, 55% of the families at these schools donated in response to this letter.

INSIDER TIP!

Kerrisdale Playground 3D Image (Elementary)

“The more you include the community in your project, the easier it is to fundraise. Everyone’s input is so valuable. The playground supervision aids and custodian gave some great feedback on the type of equipment that could be installed.” - Kerrisdale PAC membes ‘07/’08 www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

$114,890 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Elementary Playground Equipment .............................................................................................................................. $55,663.00 Installation & Surfacing - provided by School District .................................................................................... $0 Annex Playground Equipment & Installation ................................................................................................... $42,104.00 Surfacing - provided by School District ................................................................................................................ $0 Signage for Playgrounds ................................................................................................................................. $2,985.00 Food & Drinks for Community Install ............................................................................................................ $500.00 Taxes ...................................................................................................................................................................... $13,638.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................ $114,890.00

Fundraising Information Matching Grant from BC Government .................................................................................................... $20,000.00 DIRECT DONATIONS & GRASS ROOT EVENTS .................................................................................. $74,890.00 Example Events: Shopfunds (‘07 & ‘08) - $4,797 School Directories (‘07 & ‘08) - $2,918 Family Photos (‘07 & ‘08) - $3,425 Wrapping Drive (‘07 & ‘08) - $10,546 Clothing Drive (‘07 & ‘08) - $1,658 Hotdog / Sushi Day (‘07 & ‘08) - $18,339 Sports Day (‘07 & ‘08) - $5,283 Readers Digest (‘07 & ‘08) - $11,681 Entertainment Books (‘08 only) - $2,936 Existing PAC Funds ....................................................................................................................................... $20,000.00 Total ............................................................................................................................................ $114,890.00

Total..................................................................................................................................................................... $114,890.00 www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

LORD KITCHENER ELEMENTARY 4055 Blenheim St Vancouver, BC V6L 2Z1

Contact Marketing @ Habitat / (604) 294-4224

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During the summer of 2000, news sources reported that many Ontario playgrounds were being removed due to safety concerns. Many of these eastern schools were faced with having to wait for new playground equipment until they were able to raise the necessary funds, which sometimes took many years. Upon hearing the stories from Ontario, the PAC group at Lord Kitchener thought that this situation might be repeated in BC. Knowing that their playground needed updating and not wanting to be left in a similar position, the Kitchener playground fundraising project began. With no access to gaming grants for playground equipment, this group had to look at other methods of raising money. Immediately upon starting the project, the PAC group (which consisted of a Chair, Technical Advisor, Financial Officer and PR/Marketing person) contacted the School District for tips and a review of the playground building process. The School District removed the existing equipment, prepared the site, provided ground cover and as part of a pilot program project during this year, they also provided the installation. These services enabled the PAC to exclude those costs from their master budget. During their fundraising research, this school discovered a City Beautification program which offered funds in the amount of $15,000. Although these funds could not be used for the purchase of playground equipment, the school applied, and was successful. They separated a portion of these funds for items such as a garden, a bench, and a large kiosk (see picture on opposing page). This kiosk was used to advertise the names of people or organizations who donated towards the playground. Possible donors were excited by the fact that their donation would result in having a permanent display with their name on it. In effect, they found a way to use an unrelated funding source to produce future funds that could be used for their structure; a creative fundraising and marketing effort! Since the Kitchener playground was also regarded as a community playground, many community groups were contacted to help in the fundraising efforts including the local Scouts and nearby preschools. The school was also able to raise smaller amounts from school-based events, such as, Spell-a-Thons and Matha-Thons. Students were kept up-to-date on the overall progress with a large thermometer at the front of the school which showed how much was left to be raised. Parents were also contacted and requested to ask their employers for donations as well. The equipment for the Kitchener playground was selected after reviewing designs from four companies. A survey was completed with both children and parents to assess which components were most desirable. While the design they chose was not the least expensive, it offered the best warranty and durability available. The colours chosen were those that blended with the surrounding environment (green for the trees and blue for the water). The Kitchener project took one year from inception to completion, which is demonstrative of the fact that when a community comes together, great things can happen quickly.

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$100,421 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Supply Playground Equipment ................................................................................................................... $74,930.99 Installation of Playground Equipment – provided by School District ........................................................... $0 Surfacing – provided by School District ................................................................................................................... $0 Site Preparation – provided by School District ...................................................................................................... $0 Landscaping, Benches & Kiosk/Signage ................................................................................................. $15,000.00 Taxes ...................................................................................................................................................................... $10,490.34 Total ............................................................................................................................................. $100,421.33

Fundraising Information City Beautification Program ........................................................................................................................ $15,000.00 Direct Donations / Spell-a-Thon / Math-a-Thon / Existing PAC funds (majority from direct donations) ............................................................................................................... $85, 421.33 Total ............................................................................................................................................. $100,421.33

$100,421.33

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VICTOR SCHOOL 2260 Victor Street Victoria, BC V8R 4C5

Contact: Lillian Crabbe / (250) 884-8284

habitat Victor School Playground 3D Image

Victor School, located in Victoria, is dedicated to a student population of approximately 35 who all have unique needs. Although this school has a very small student base, over a two year period, they were able to raise over $170,000 for their playground project. Lillian Crabbe, leader of the fundraising efforts, believes that it is the persistence of a core group and strong community support, which allows projects like this to happen. One of their most popular fundraising activities was a hot dog sale with a twist! Sautéing onions in butter, this school quickly became known for their mouth-watering dogs. On a single event day, this school went through upwards of 25 pounds of onions. The hot dogs, buns and onions were donated by Thrifty Foods. Selling for $2.50 each, this simple but creative idea turned into a great fundraising initiative. Fundraising initiatives were launched close to dates when gift giving is common, such as Mother’s Day and Christmas. Silent auctions were made successful by having students in a class each donate an item towards a theme-based basket (for example, epicure). For their art sale, paintings were created by the children, which held special meaning for their new owners. This school also made an effort to make connections in their community with local celebrities, such as television and radio hosts, who all contributed in different ways. The radio station CFAX made a $40,000 donation.

“When applying for grants from large corporation and foundations, ask for more (within reason!) and they can always give you less. A few times after we were approved for grants, someone would invariably say, we thought you would have wanted more. If you research past grant approvals (usually you can find them on the Internet) you can see who they have donated to, and the amounts they gave, which will give you an idea of what the threshold is.” - Lillian Crabbe

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$171,744 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS Budget Information Playground Equipment ................................................................................................................................... $93,747.42 Safety Tiles .......................................................................................................................................................... $30,592.13 Installation & Landscaping - provided by School District ............................................................... $30,000.00 Taxes ...................................................................................................................................................................... $17,404.54 Total ............................................................................................................................................. $171,744.09

Fundraising Information GRASS ROOTS EVENTS .............................................................................................................................. $20,000.00 Parent Advisory Committee Fundraising including Student Painting Sale/Art Fair, Silent Auction . . Events, Chocolate Sales, Garage Sales, Mother’s Day Plant Sales, Book Sales and Hot Dog Sales. FOUNDATION GRANTS ............................................................................................................................... $20,000.00 Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children - $10,000 Victoria Foundation - $10,000 DONATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... $5,520.00 Standard Grant allotted per school - School District 61 - $5,000 Gaming Funds Grant - $520 BUSINESS DONATIONS ............................................................................................................................... $80,000.00 Ronald McDonald Charities - $40,000 CFAX – Santa’s Anonymous - $40,000 OTHER FUNDING SOURCES .................................................................................................................... $41,000.00+ Anonymous Donor -$10,000 PAC Savings Account - $20,000 Various Private Donations - $11,000+ Total ............................................................................................................................................. $171,744.09

Total..................................................................................................................................................... .$171,744.09

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WATSON ELEMENTARY 45305 Watson Rd Chilliwack, BC V2R 2H5

Contact: Kim Thoms / thomsfamily@shaw.ca

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Concerned with the safety and condition of two old wooden playground structures that were slated for removal in two years, Watson Elementary School staff, students and parents took on the challenge of raising funds for both their primary and intermediate playgrounds. A playground committee was formed, consisting of PAC members who underwent a series of product testing by playing on various playgrounds in the Chilliwack area. As well as conducting supplier research, a survey was distributed to students that provided design input (see page 25). After the research was completed, Watson Elementary chose to partner with Habitat in the creation of two new playgrounds, basing their decision on design options, equipment quality and services offered. Once the equipment was decided upon, fundraising began. The playground committee divided their efforts among three initiatives: grant application writing, letter writing to various organizations and hosting school events. As a school for the nearby former military base, they also had the option of asking Canada Lands, who are redeveloping the base, for a donation. With three committee members filling out various grant applications, Watson Elementary became the successful recipient of four playground equipment grants. Part of the committee’s success could be attributed to focusing on the unique elements of the school and matching them to the specific requirements of the grants. For example, the Please Mum Grant focused on younger children, which enabled them to use their three preschool programs as leverage to receive this grant.

Watson wrote letters to various organizations in the community asking for donations of any size. Unfortunately, due to a downturn in the economy at the time, many people who wanted to help weren’t able to do so. Watson, however, kept persevering and received donations from various community and service clubs. Canada Lands also generously complied, donating the sum of $10,000! Watson decided to submit old pictures of army personnel in uniform installing Watson’s original playground to the local newspaper. The photos were published alongside a request for donations. This was another successful fundraising effort. Watson received instrumental help from their school board, which looked after the entire installation, the site preparation (removal of old equipment), as well as the surfacing and borders. The School District also set up a trust account and issued tax receipts to donors, which was a huge incentive for many organizations as PAC groups generally cannot issue tax receipts. Finally, the PAC needed to raise approximately $20,000 in funding to match the BC Gaming Commission Grant. This was achieved through hosting various events, such as hot dog sales, Christmas card sales, family fun nights, carnivals and Ladies Nights. The moral of this fundraising story is that it doesn’t hurt to ask. Through perseverance, Watson Elementary School raised enough funds for two brand new playgrounds.

INSIDER TIP! “Part of the committee’s success could be attributed to focusing on the unique elements of the school and matching them to the specific requirements of the grants.” - Kim Thoms, Former PAC member

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$96,890 - PROJECT COST & FUNDRAISING DETAILS PRIMARY PLAYGROUND INFORMATION *shown above

INTERMEDIATE PLAYGROUND INFORMATION *shown on next page

Budget Information

Supply Playground Equipment ................... $41, 834.49 Installation of Playground Equipment – provided by School District Surfacing – provided by School District Site Preparation – provided by School District Landscaping – provided by School District Taxes .......................................................................... $5,020.13 Total ............................................................ $46,854.62

Supply Playground Equipment .................... $44,674.95 Install Playground Equipment – provided by School District Surfacing – provided by School District Site Preparation – provided by School District Landscaping – provided by School District Taxes .......................................................................... $5,361.00 Total ............................................................ $50,035.95

Fundraising Information

GRANTS: Chilliwack Foundation ...................................... $5,000.00 Home Depot .......................................................... $1,000.00 DIRECT DONATIONS & GRASS ROOT EVENTS: Rotary Club Of Chilliwack ............................... $5,000.00 Vedder Golden Legion Branch ...................... $3,000.00 Gemco Construction ............................................. $500.00 Chilliwack Lions Club ............................................ $250.00 Chilliwack Dogwood Monarch Lions Club .... $250.00 Cooper’s Foods ....................................................... $250.00 Mertin’s GM .................................................................. $50.00 Pre-Existing PAC Funds ................................... $31,554.62 Total ............................................................ $46,854.62 Total................................................................................... $46,854.62

GRANTS: BC Gaming Commissions Grant ................. $20,000.00 Please Mum Foundation ................................... $9,700.00 DIRECT DONATIONS & GRASS ROOT EVENTS: Canada Lands .................................................... $10,000.00 School Recycling Club ....................................... $1,000.00 Global Montessori Preschool ............................. $500.00 Cooper’s Foods ....................................................... $250.00 Pre-Existing PAC Funds .................................... $8,585.95 Total ............................................................ $50,035.95

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Watson School Playgrounds 3D Images www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

APPENDIX

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CLIENT PROJECT FORM provided by Habitat

This guide provides information on schools who were able to raise funds for their playgrounds through a variety of initiatives. The ability to produce this document is made possible through the participation of schools who are able to share their story with others. When your project is completed, please take a moment to fill out this form to be included in this guide in future editions. Fax back to 1 (866) 422-4002 or email info@habitat-systems.com to request a PDF form which can be filled out on-line and emailed back.

Contact Information Project Contact Name:______________________________________________________________________ School Name:_____________________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________ City, Province, Postal Code:__________________________________________________________________ Best contact number (for 1/2 hour phone interview):_____________________________________________ Best time of day to contact (morning or afternoon):______________________________________________ Email address:_____________________________________________________________________________

Project Details Design #:_________________________________________________________________________________ Colours:__________________________________________________________________________________ Project start date (month/year):______________________________________________________________ Installation date (month/year):_______________________________________________________________ Summary of Costs (Please feel free to round the numbers) Removal of old equipment:__________________________________________________________________ Site preparation:___________________________________________________________________________ Cost of playground equipment:_______________________________________________________________ Installation of playground equipment:__________________________________________________________ Surfacing cost:____________________________________________________________________________ Surfacing installation:_______________________________________________________________________ Borders:__________________________________________________________________________________ Signage:_________________________________________________________________________________ Landscaping:______________________________________________________________________________ Taxes: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Total: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Summary of Fundraising Grants:___________________________________________________________________________________ PAC fundraisers:___________________________________________________________________________ Special events:____________________________________________________________________________ Private donations:__________________________________________________________________________ Business donations:________________________________________________________________________ Other:___________________________________________________________________________________ _Total (should equal to costs summary above):_____________________________________________________________________ Please fax this page to 1 (866) 294-4002, or email this information to info@habitat-systems.com. www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

100% FUNDRAISING PROGRAM provided by Habitat

Got the Itch to Make Your Playground Dream a Reality?

GO AHEAD AND SCRATCH! Habitat’s scratchcard program yields 100% profit. We will work with you to personalize your cards with your playground design so that people will connect to your cause and therefore be more willing to support it!

Each scratchcard

raises $100 for your playground project!

Actual coupons may differ

Getting Started... • • • •

Work with your Habitat Playground Consultant to create your dream playground design. This design will be placed on the front of your scratchcard so that people know right away what you are fundraising for. Select your cover text (example: Help Make our Playground Dream a Reality). Let your Playground Consultant know the number of cards your school needs (one per child, one per family, one per team member, etc.) Once your Scratchard Order is placed with Habitat, you will receive your cards within 5 business days.

Then What?… Get Scratching. • • •

Distribute the cards to your group and go! They are 4x6 inches and convenient to carry. Ask supporters (friends, family members, co-workers) to scratch one or more dots and donate the amount uncovered ($1 - $5).

Program Tips... • • •

We suggest that you give a timeline of 1 week for cards to be returned to you with funds. Start by ordering one card per fundraiser and then order more if needed. Having people raise funds in teams creates a feeling of competition which will raise more funds than when fundraising individually. www.habitat-systems.com | 1 (866) HABITAT | info@habitat-systems.com

EXAMPLE SURVEY FORM:

Beach Grove Elementary School Playground Project

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EXAMPLE EQUIPMENT VOTING FORM: Watson Elementary School Playground Project

Included in Design Yes (2)

Item

Intermediate Primary Response Response

Spinning Seat

Spinning Pole

Slide

Yes

Double Slide

Yes

Steep Slide

Tube Slide

Yes

Twisting/Zig Zag Slide

1 3

Tunnel

Spinning Carousel/Merry Go Round

Climbing Wall/Structure

3 **

Climbing Mountain

Yes

Climbing Ropes

Yes

Climbers

Swinging Ropes

Yes

Rope Jungle Gym

Yes (1)

Zipline/2 Ziplines for Racing

3**

No - due to cost

Tire Swing

3**

Saucer Swing

Barrel Rolle

Yes

Wiggly Stepping Stones

Yes

Monkey Bars

Swinging Monkey Bars

Yes

Rings

Yes

Ladder

Parallel Bars

Trampoline

More Swings Castle Wall Themes: Boat/Pirate/Castle

1 3**

2 2

1 1

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EXAMPLE DONATION FORM:

Kerrisdale Elementary School Playground Project

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EXAMPLE FUNDRAISING LETTER: Kerrisdale Elementary School Playground Project

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“Our parent committee had the lofty goal of creating an accessible play space at our school site for the entire community to enjoy. Habitat’s professionalism, expertise and teamwork enabled us to work through the many challenges of creating such a significantly sized project. Habitat worked closely with us for over three years in order to bring this project to fruition. Our dreams are coming true thanks to Habitat.” - Diane Henley, PAC - Cedar Grove Elementary, Gibsons, BC

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