Granby PTO Jog-A-Thon Returns for Third Year

Submitted by Kate Roy

As parents and children get back into the swing of the new school year, the Granby PTO is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year.  

The Jog-A-Thon is back for 2013, its third year, after the fundraiser raised an amazing some $60,000 for PTO programs in its first two years.  Once again, the Jog-A-Thon will be the only major fundraiser for the school year, so we need help from students, parents, teachers and the community to make it a success.

This year’s Jog-A-Thon is scheduled for Saturday, September 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kelly Lane School.  This year’s theme is “Heroes.”  Local heroes – firefighters, police, EMTs and soldiers, will be there to cheer on participants!  Parents may have their children dress up as a favorite hero, real or fictional, and cheer on the kids.

Prior to the day of the event, students will secure pledges, either flat donations or per-lap donations, and turn in the form to their teachers by Wednesday, September 25. 

On September 28, students arrive at the school, ready to jog for 20 minutes around a track.  Jogs start on the half-hour.  Because fall weekends are busy for many families, parents are encouraged to bring their children whenever it is most convenient for them. 

After the child runs, the PTO records the number of laps the student ran on their pledge form, and returns it to the student at the Jog-A-Thon to collect any per-lap or yet-to-be-paid flat donations.  Students collect the money and return it, along with their pledge forms to their teachers.

Students need not be present on the day of the Jog-A-Thon to participate!  Flat donations to the fundraiser are welcome. 

There are plenty of incentives to get students and teachers excited about this fundraiser.  Families are reminded that 10 percent of all money raised goes back to each classroom, where students and teachers can work together to come up with a good way to spend it. 

The Granby PTO funds the sixth-grade picnic, the My Brother Sam program, High Tech/High Touch, Nature’s Classroom and Cultural Enrichment programs, among others. 

Classrooms collecting the most donations and classrooms with the highest number of participants will be formally recognized. 

Money and pledge forms will be due back at the schools by Friday, October 11.

The PTO has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for each school, which is attainable if students, teachers and the entire community work together!  Please help support the Jog-A-Thon so that the PTO can bring Granby children a wide variety of educational programming during the 2013-2014 school year.