Fundraising Phenomenon

A Promise to Kiss a Pig at Schuykill Valley Schools

Phenom mom, Andrea Edris, agreed to co-chair Schuylkill Valley Elementary and Middle Schools� fund raiser only if they would sell Wolfgang Candy. With fond memories of selling Wolfgang�s quality chocolates when she was a student, Andrea felt confident that Wolfgang would help her schools meet their fundraising goal of 10 percent over last year�s gift fund raiser. So, joined by enthusiastic co-chair Janet Canaday, this working mother of two, Sarah, 8, and Evan, 4, jumped right into her first year with Wolfgang Candy fund raising.

Donna Trach, Wolfgang�s CSR, recognized early on that the Schuylkill Valley PTO was an unusually cohesive group that really generated the enthusiasm required for successful fund raising. For example, the PTO gave every teacher one of Wolfgang�s School Boxes of Chocolate Covered Animal Crackers, just to thank them for becoming involved in fund raising in addition to their many other roles. Andrea shared, in turn, that Donna was a fabulous motivator during the kick-off event for the students and that she shared fundraising tips that really work.

With a winning PTO team, energetic CSR, and teachers who all sampled the fundraising product, what else could guarantee success? How about a challenge from the principals of both elementary and middle schools�like kissing a pig if the students raised 10 percent over last year�s fund raiser? This dare, similar to that initiated in Shakespearean-inspired, Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig, 2004, by Kalli Dakos and Alicia DesMarteau, and illustrated by Carl DiRocco, was one that students simply could not ignore!

So, challenge in hand, another talented mom, artist Mandee Miller, added a very special element to the fundraising contest by creating life-sized painted illustrations of middle school Principal Judith Sargent and elementary school Assistant Principal, Lacie Whitmoyer The illustrations were displayed in each school for all to see and generated lots of fun and hub-bub amongst the students.

Well, it is safe to say, that pig kissing by your principal equals successful fundraising with Wolfgang Candy! The students and families of Schuylkill Valley Elementary and Middle Schools exceeded their goal, over $54,000 by selling Wolfgang Thanks to the principals, PTO chairs and volunteers, a talented artist, teachers, students and families, these schools will enjoy updated sound equipment, field trips and so much more for these lucky, hard working students and a very lucky pig!