Final Update – 860 donors have given $338,207 to the PCA Fund.
Astronaut Skype. Kindergarten Circus. High-touch High-tech. Fish tanks. Snakes. Service Day. Special Friends Basketball Game. There are many pieces to a Kingdom education. Tuition covers much of it, but it takes an extra boost to make our school truly excellent.
North Texas Giving Day is today Thursday, Sept. 14. The single day event helps non-profit groups all across the area raise money by offering incentives and contests that increase the value of donations. Last year, PCA raised $327,000 from 561 donors which went directly to the PCA Fund helping to support the programs that mold students into a Portrait of a Graduate.
Students are encouraged to participate in the fundraiser in three ways:
- Retweet for a chance at $1,000. The organization with the most retweets of a single tweet wins. To help, look for the North Texas Giving Day Tweet with the hashtag #NTXGivingDay on the Twitter account @PrestonwoodPCA. Retweet that original tweet (do not quote tweet).
- Donate online. Every little bit helps. The school could win up to $5,000 in three different categories – most donors, most new donors and largest increase in number of donors. Instead of just parents giving, students could add to the number of givers in a big way. Gifts can be made today at bitly.com/PCA-NTXGD. Every donation, even $5, counts through tonight at midnight.
- Encourage parents to make a donation. No donation is too small.
- Students can also sign up to make phone bank calls on Thursday to potential donors to earn service hours: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9aa22a1f58-north
Donations given on North Texas Giving Day go directly to the PCA Fund. While tuition covers approximately 95 percent of the school’s operating expenses, the PCA Fund covers the remaining five percent of the budget, funding needs in all areas of the school from athletics to arts, academics to special events.
Whether it’s the Fall Play or a field trip to the Dallas Arboretum, the PCA Fund makes these events happen by making up the difference between tuition and the school’s regular operating budget.
The PCA Fund helps pay for Lower School field trips. Pre-K 5 student Trey Beckles said, “I loved going to the Pumpkin Patch and getting to take home a pumpkin and make a pie. We got to go on a hay ride, too. I also got to have a picnic lunch with my friends.”
Blake Dunham, a Fourth grade student, said, “I had a lot of fun at the Heard Museum. We got to see rocks, snakes, butterflies and really cool dinosaurs. My favorite part was getting to walk around the trails and see the turtles.”
The PCA Fund also helps buy fish tanks and other supplies for the Middle School Marine Team. Lilly Wilson, an Eighth grade student, said, “It was really cool to practice responsibility and know that I had my own tank. I had a variety of fish.”
The High-Touch High-Tech Science program also benefits from the PCA Fund. Second grade student Gillian Gile said, “One day we learned about matter, and we got to put different ingredients in a balloon to see what would make it pop. I love Science, and I love getting to try new things. Experiments are fun.”
Science teacher Mrs. Amy Lumley said, “The PCA Fund allows the Science department to supplement the curriculum with hands-on instructional materials. In years past, the PCA Fund has assisted in the purchasing of dissection materials, different chemicals and glassware, and other interactive materials.” Science teacher Mrs. Melody Gravett said, “The PCA Fund helps us to make Science come to life.”
This year, Director of Annual Giving Mrs. Micah Reis and the Development Office team hope to see North Texas Giving Day, the premier money-raising effort of the year for the PCA Fund, provide ample money to fund all the needs for this “Margin of Excellence,” a commitment to training the next generation of students using Kingdom education principles.
“It doesn’t matter the size of the gift, we would love to build community by having every family participate this year,” said Mrs. Reis.
To get everyone involved, special incentives are planned to encourage giving. Grade levels can earn incentives based on participation. Participation is per grade, not a competition between grades. These privileges build on each other so each grade can earn them all.
Plano Campus
Upper School:
70% participation – Crocs and Sandals Day
80% participation – College T-shirt Day
90% participation – Activity period treat (cookies with the Head of School)
100% participation – Lunch at Main Street Cafe (Seniors off campus)
Middle School:
70% participation – Spirit Day
80% participation – Three Spirit Days
90% participation – Activity period treat (cookies with the Head of School)
100% participation – Lunch at Main Street Cafe
Lower School:
70% participation – 15 minutes of extra recess
80% participation – Popcorn Day
90% participation – Pictures and classroom visit by Levi the Lion
100% participation – Free Homework Coupon
North Campus
Middle School:
70% participation – Spirit Day
80% participation – 10 bonus points on Bible quiz
90% participation – Cookies with the Principal
100% participation – Sonic Drink in class
Lower School:
70% participation – Crazy Sock Day, choice of shoes
80% participation – Pajama and Popcorn Day
90% participation – Ice Cream party with Principal
100% participation – Pictures and classroom visit by Levi the Lion
In addition, PCA Plano students may wear a green shirt and jeans on Thursday.
Senior Director of Business Administration Susan Verheul said, “PCA could not operate with a balanced budget without the PCA Fund. Because of its impact on so many of our programs and facilities, we are able to offer the high quality programs and state of the art facilities that we all are able to enjoy. Participating in the PCA Fund allows donors to actively participate in daily needs of our school.”
