Parents > Celebration for Education
Celebration for Education
New Celebration for Education Website
www.celebrationforeducation.com
About the CFE
The Celebration For Education is an annual fundraising event held in November of each year to benefit Community Montessori School (CMS) and Montessori Middle School of Kentucky (MMSK). The CFE is a glamorous (Black Tie optional) event featuring an art show, live music, food and gaming tables intertwined with silent and live auctions.
This event would not be possible without the complete participation of the CMS/MMSK parent bodies and the staff/administration at the schools. This event is a very important factor in maintaining a reasonable tuition with minimal increases at both CMS and MMSK.
Where to go with questions
All parents of CMS and/or MMSK students are encouraged to contact Janet Ashby at the CMS Office with questions concerning this event. (New parents are especially encouraged to call, as we are aware that this can be somewhat overwhelming at first!) We also encourage you to contact one of the committee co-chairs or any committee member that you may be familiar with for additional information regarding this fundraiser.
Responsibilities
This event certainly would not be successful, but truly could not even be possible without the complete participation of the parent bodies of both CMS and MMSK.
The contractual agreement you signed when your child enrolled at CMS and/or MMSK, stated that parents are required to participate in our one major fund raiser, the Celebration For Education.
We cannot stress with enough emphasis that the CFE is vital to the continued success of CMS and MMSK and in helping to limit increases in tuition. Most importantly, however, the success of this event directly and positively affects the student body. Even though you are required to participate in this one event, however, please keep in mind that it is one event! Due to the nearly 100% participation of the parents and the success of the event, this is it! We do not conduct additional fund raisers throughout the school year (such as selling wrapping paper, candies, magazines, etc.).
Many parents who have had a child/children at CMS and/or MMSK for several years have learned that it is easiest to "anticipate" this event! Therefore, they begin selling their tickets, ads and securing their donations early so as not to feel "pressured" to get it done at the last minute.
The following are your responsibilities to the event:
1. Secure a minimum of one donation of at least a $50 value and return your merchant donation form to the school.
*You are encouraged to secure as many donations as possible. If you are unable to secure a donation, we will accept a cash donation (minimum $50) that can be used to purchase an additional auction item.
Where do I go for a donation? Think of friends and families that have businesses first. After that, think of businesses or services that you use often. Donations have been secured from all sorts of businesses including: retail outlets/ chains, restaurants, services, clubs, marinas, museums, etc. The potential is endless!
2. Sell a minimum of five raffle tickets (at $5 per ticket).
*Again, you may buy them for five chances at the drawing that evening ($25 total). In the past, the prize has been $1,000 cash.
3. List or sell one advertisement to be included in the CFE program.
Where do I sell ad space to? Many parents have businesses of thier own that like to place ads in the CFE program because of the exposure. Again, there are usually 700 to 800 in attendance at the event and ads are relatively inexpensive (they start at $25 for a business card size). As with donations, think of family and friends and businesses that you frequent. Some families also place ads in "support CFE" or in appreciation of the many benefits we receive from our children's Montessori education (for ideas about these types of ads, you can vie past CFE Programs by contacting the CMS office).
4. Sell a minimum of eight admission tickets to the event.
Who do I sell tickets to? We encourage you to sell tickets to anyone who might enjoy attending the Celebration for Education! One thing to keep in mind: the more people that we have at the event, the more successful the fundraiser will be.
5. Complete a work assignment for the event.
What is a work assignment? Work assignments include set-up, decorating, take down, silent auction, monitors, live auction assistants, bank tellers, silent auction runners, silent auction tellers, art show monitors, art show runners, greeters, money jar, gaming tables, lock-in sitters, coat check and bank. There are work opportunities throughout the evening and even the day before and after the event. Therefore, there should be some assignment that could fit into everyone's schedule.
When do I get a work assignment? Once you have secured your donation and have turned it and your donation form into the CMS office, you may sign up for the assignment of your choice. Therefore, if you need a particular assignment on a particular day or time, it is important to get your donation in early! If you forget to sign up for a work assignment, you will be called by a committee member on a "call night" and will have to choose from what is remaining. So please don't forget to sign up as you turn in your donation!
Deadlines
First deadlines for turning in donations, obtaining advertisements, etc., usually occur sometime in October and you will receive additional information about these and more about the event at the parent meeting in August at the beginning of the school year.
Participation
As all parents benefit from the success of the event, CMS, MMSK and the CFE Committee appreciates the willingness of every parent to do his/her share of fund raising and participation! Participation equals success and the greater the success of the event the greater the benefit to all, especially to the students!
Page Update: September 6, 2007