WOODBURY — Many people look back at high school and remember the friends they made, their first dance, graduation, or maybe even pep rallies. Students today want to make the most of their high school experience, and to do this, it means stepping up to fundraise for some of these memorable events.
“If we didn’t have these fundraisers, we wouldn’t have the money to put down these deposits for prom, so there goes your prom,” explains Rebecca Trzaski, a social studies teacher and Sophomore Class Council co-advisor.
When it comes to these large events like prom, fundraisers can make it or break it. One of the largest pressure points on prom fundraising is finding a venue.
Trzaski explains that without these fundraisers, “you are not going to be able to find a venue.”
Hannah Keating, the secretary for Sophomore Class Council, also agrees on the importance that these fundraisers hold for the students at Nonnewaug, not just for proms but for other events.
“These fundraisers benefit the school by helping relieve the cost of things like prom or like senior field day for students,” Keating said. “A lot of the time those costs can add up, so it makes everything that’s fun more affordable for the students.”
These fundraisers are vital for students at Nonnewaug, but they can also be the most difficult task.
“Fundraising is definitely one of the hardest task that Freshman and Sophomore Class Councils face,” explains Trzaski.
Although it may prove difficult to start some fundraisers, Chipotle fundraisers prove a perfect solution. One of the most common fundraisers at Nonnewaug is the Chipotle fundraiser, loved by students for its simplicity and close proximity in Southbury.
“We love them because they’re so easy,” says Laurenn Bertoglio, a math teacher and Junior Class Council co-advisor. “We just fill out the paperwork and then that’s all we have to do, and we’ve made decent money.”
On these Chipotle fundraiser nights, students and families go to purchase food, and when the night is over, 30% of their total profits goes to the group. This makes these Chipotle fundraisers a fan favorite for most of Nonnewaug’s class councils.
Trzaski utilizes several other ways for income. One of these ways is through class dues, which have proven useful for funding prom.
“The other biggest source of income for the class is the class dues,” Trzaski explains. “We ask that students pay $25 each year.”
Although these payments may seem unnecessary, Trzaski argues that they are critical for a class council’s success.
“We need that money so far in advance of senior year, because the money … will cover the cost of senior field day and hopefully defray the cost of the senior class trip and senior prom,” Trzaski said.
Sometimes the most successful fundraisers are the most creative, which the Junior Class Council has proven with their festive funding ideas. Although some of these ideas can be harder to execute, class councils find their way around the challenges.
“I think definitely [it’s important] just to put up flyers and spread the word and make the fundraisers also benefit those who are supporting us rather than just straight up asking people for money,” Keating explains.
One example of a fundraiser that Junior Class Council found helpful was right around Easter time, and it was a perfect way to utilize different ways to make fundraisers more effective. The group taps into its sweet tooth with a Fascia’s Chocolates fundraiser.
“We make a lot of money on that, about $1,000,” Bertoglio said.
Bertoglio also believes that the parents help create a large impact on the Junior Class Council revenue.
“We wouldn’t say that the students are really good at fundraising. It’s our parents,” she claims. “We just have really supportive parents and they do such a good job with all the fundraising. They’ll order for their whole office at lunch and we get all the money from that.”
With student activities and crowded calendars, it can be a daunting task to keep it all in line, but Lisa Gombos, the principal’s administrative assistant, sees the importance of staying organized. Advisors must submit paperwork to hold a fundraiser, and Gombos uses her large binder to contain any and all fundraisers going on.
“It’s just a way to keep it all the so they don’t duplicate the fundraisers,” Gombos explains.
