Due to budgetary shortfalls, most educational institutions, all the
way from elementary schools to universities, frequently find themselves
in need of additional funds to optimize their plans for the current
school year. Mariachi for Gringos can provide virtually any
institute of learning with a tool to raise those funds while providing
the purchaser with a quality item that can be reused repeatedly after
the initial purchase while providing continuing
satisfaction to that user. Let's examine a couple of recent case histories
to clarify the procedure.
Tiffany
Elementary School in Eastlake, CA needed to raise funds for a library
expansion: new and more books were needed, as well as the bookshelves
to house and catalogue those books. Charlie Padilla, the Principal,
and Linda Harding, the Librarian, devised a program whereby Mariachi
for Gringos would be sold by all members of the student body as
a holiday gift item for all family members, as well as friends of the
student book sellers, themselves. The profit generated from the sale
of each book was equal to the cost of the book to the Tiffany Library
Account, a higher yield than was possible from any other traditional
source of fundraising (such as candy and magazine subscriptions). In
addition, there was virtually no sales resistance to Mariachi for
Gringos as the fundraising mechanism since a) everybody knows how
to sing and b) virtually everybody knows someone who plays an instrument
or likes to sing. The facts that the book fit conveniently into Christmas
stockings (as well as being a true 'pocket' book) and could be easily
mailed to distant relatives in an inexpensive 6" x 9" envelope
were also stressed during the sales presentation. The library realized
its fundraising goal and everybody had fun while doing it. The final
night of the event was capped by a Book Signing where the author was
present to meet the students and their family members; at that festive
event, the proper methods to utilize the book's many features were demonstrated.
The
'hand out' sent home was continuously reinforced by the individual classroom
teachers. In addition, the same information was available on the Burton
C. Tiffany website page under the heading 'Library Fundraiser' (see www.cvesd.org/tiffany).
This data was strategically positioned just under a reproduction of
the striking front cover of the book.
All
in all, it was a win-win situation for the Library, the school, and those who
purchased Mariachi for Gringos.
A
different approach to general fundraising (with an emphasis on the procurement
of new books for a school) was taken by Valle Lindo School. While using
a 'Book Fair' from a major national distributor of children's books
as the focal point, their P.T.A's President, Laura Chacon, in conjunction
with the school's Principal, Helena Sabala, decided to specifically
emphasize Mariachi for Gringos. Once again, a 'hand-out' was
utilized, stressing the 'Book Fair' AND the fact that the author of
Mariachi for Gringos would be on-site to sign books on selected
'Book Fair' dates. When the week-long 'Book Fair' was over, the school
P.T.A. reproduced the data sheet sent home with the students on the
school's website and gave new dates (extending out for another month)
for the author to be on campus to sign books, which generated significant
additional income for the school...and specifically, additional funds
to buy new books for the school library.
To
find out how Mariachi for Gringos can help your school realize
its fund raising goals, go to either the Contact Us or Schedule a Book
Signing rollovers and we'll be glad to help with all the specifics.