Stepping Stones Learning Center featured Fundraising Group

One of our favorite things at Fun Pasta Fundraising is helping groups to achieve their fundraising goals.  We’ve learned that with every group, there is a story behind the fundraiser.  It’s the story and the people that we love.  It keeps us using our noodles to continuously raise the Fundraising bar to improve our fundraising products and the process. The Stepping Stones Learning Center was one of our Fall Sweepstakes winners  and is our featured fundraising group. Here is our inspiring interview with Fundraising Group Leader, Jennifer Ayers.

Tell us about your group? How many members? How long have you been together?

We have close to 100 children, aged 1 through Pre-K enrolled at the school. Of those, we had 90 participants so nearly 100% participation in this fundraiser. I am a teacher at the school. I teach the Younger 2’s and have 7 children in my class.

How long have you worked with Fun Pasta Fundraising?

I first heard about Fun Pasta Fundraising at my son’s school who used it for an online one fundraiser. I liked it a lot so I brought the brochure to my Director, Kelly Antle, who also liked it and put me in charge of running it.

What were you raising funds for?  What was your fundraising goal?

We didn’t have a specific goals in terms of one item. We needed to raise money to cover expenses for classroom supplies, toys for the children, etc. This is a private daycare and parents do bring in supplies at the beginning of the year but there are always things that need to be replaced each year.

How did you advertise and market your fundraiser?

We showed off the sample products on our Parent Teacher Conference night at the beginning of the school year. The fundraising brochure was sent out prior to that in the parent information packets. We have a member only Facebook page for parents and we posted it there as well as included fundraising information in our emails and classroom notes.

What do you attribute to the success of this fundraiser?

We really didn’t experience any challenges. The product was fun and easy to sell. The process flowed smoothly. Even distribution of almost $3700 of pasta was simple. It only took 3 volunteers to pack individual orders. I loved how every box was numbered. It was easy.

Is there something our readers would be surprised to know about your group?

We have a great group of kids and great families. Stepping Stones is affiliated through the Methodist Church in Claremore, OK. It is curriculum based and is a great program. We have a long list of parents on our waiting list each year.

Tell us why you are such a passionate supporter of Woodstock Academy Music Department and of this fundraiser.

My children went through this program years ago. This is my first year teaching with them. It is very rewarding.

Of all the products in the fundraising catalog, which did your group sell the most? What were they excited about?

The OU pasta and OSU Collegiate Pasta were big sellers. The Down on the Farm Mac ‘n Cheese and Chicken Noodle Soup were also very popular.

Special thanks to Stepping Stones Learning Center and to Jennifer Ayers for taking the time to share their fundraising success story with us. For more information about your next Fundraiser, click here.