2015-2016
Thunderbird Annual Fundraising Raffle
“Helping Children SOAR To New Heights!”
Sponsored by: Bird Elementary School PTO
Welcome New and Returning Bird Elementary School Families,
We are so glad that you are part of our fantastic school community of almost 400 families!
Bird Elementary School is a great place for our children to learn and grow. Our school PTO
encourages your support and participation in only one (1) fundraiser each school year,
the “Thunderbird Annual Fundraiser Raffle”. You read this right…this is our ONLY
fundraiser we conduct each school year at Bird Elementary School!!!
This fundraiser has been taking place since 2003 (it’s our 12th year), and has provided
substantial classroom and school enhancements for all of the students at Bird Elementary
School. Our Bird Elementary students benefit from these educational enhancements each
day.
On page 2 (over) we have listed out some frequently asked questions and answers about
this fundraiser. If you have any additional questions, please contact Sue Shanlikian, coraffle chair. We thank you in advance for the support you can provide for OUR students.
Sincerely,
Sue Shanlikian & Nicole L’Heureux
2015 Bird Elementary PTO Raffle Co-chairs
[email protected]
This information will also be posted to the Bird Elementary School PTO website
See page 2 (over) for Frequently Asked Questions
Thunderbird Annual Fundraising Raffle
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q. What are the important dates I should add to my calendar for this fundraiser?
1. Monday, October 5: Raffle envelopes are sent home with the oldest/only child at Bird Elementary School. This envelope will
contain fifty (50) raffle tickets, each with a selling price of $2.
2. Friday, October 30: ALL sold and unsold tickets and stubs with money collected are due back to Bird Elementary School no
later than this date. It is a legal requirement from the State of Michigan Lottery Association that we collect all tickets for this
fundraiser, regardless if they have been sold.
3. Saturday, November 7 (12:00 pm – 2:00 pm): Raffle drawing at the Family Fun Bowling Event held at Plaza Lanes Bowling
Alley in Plymouth, MI. Raffle winner does not need to be present at the event.
Q. What are the Raffle Prizes?
 Cash prizes: First prize = $500, Second prize = $300, Third prize = $200, Fourth prize = $100
Q. Why should I support this fundraiser?
 This fundraiser supplements the per-pupil funding (Foundation Allowance) received from the State of Michigan. Since the
passage of Proposal A in 2004, local property taxes do not directly fund local public school districts. For the 2015-2016 school
year, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools receives the lowest per-pupil amount allocated in the State of Michigan. This
fundraiser seeks to supplement the State of Michigan funding to Bird Elementary students to provide learning enhancements.
Q. What are the funds collected used for?
 On average, this fundraiser generates approximately $20,000 annually for the Bird Elementary School PTO. This money is
used by the Bird PTO to purchase items which supplement classroom learning and improve the Bird Elementary environment.
 Last school year (2014-15), the Bird PTO was able to purchase over $10,000 in items including a laminator, paper cutter,
ukuleles, literacy intervention books, iPad covers, headphones for the media center and many other items that benefit Bird
Elementary students on a daily basis.
Q. Why does Bird Elementary participate in this type of fundraiser vs. selling pizza kits, market day, etc.?
 The profit margin on this Raffle fundraiser is over 90% (after expenses of prize money, lottery license and raffle material
printing).
 If you sell or purchase 50 raffle tickets you spend $100 generating over $90 for the Bird Elementary PTO.
 To generate $90 with Pizza Kits you would have to purchase 18 Pizza Kits and would have to spend over $300!
Q. How much are you looking for each family to fundraise/donate?
 Enclosed in your Raffle envelope are fifty (50) tickets per Bird Elementary family that sell for $2 each. We hope your family
can help support our school by either purchasing the fifty (50) tickets for $100 or you may sell them to family and friends. Per
State of Michigan Lottery rules, only persons 18 years old or above may sell these Raffle tickets.
 If you need more than the fifty (50) tickets that were issued to you, please contact Sue Shanlikian, Raffle co-chair
([email protected]) and she will deliver more tickets to you.
 The PTO accepts cash or check sales only for the sale of Raffle tickets. Checks should be made payable to “Bird PTO”.
Q. What is the Family Fun Event to conclude this fundraising event?
 On Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, the Bird Elementary School PTO will host a Family Fun Event of
bowling at Plaza Lanes Bowling Alley in Plymouth, MI. The drawing of Raffle winners will take place at this event. The Raffle
winners do not need to be present at this event to win.
 More details including cost and sign-up for this Family Fun Event will be sent home in mid-October and also posted to the Bird
Elementary School PTO website. Please keep a lookout for this information in your email.
 Although the Raffle drawing is held at the Family Fun Event, you don’t need to attend this event, even if you sold Raffle tickets
and participated in this fundraiser event. Also, if you choose not to sell Raffle tickets, you are still invited to attend the Family
Fun Event.
Thank you in advance for any support you can provide for this fundraiser,
benefiting OUR Bird Elementary School Thunderbirds!