As a coach of the school team or the local team, you may need funds to secure your team’s dream entry into a national series. Such funds are generally arranged for through fundraisers where the children sell snacks to their friends and other children of the locality. A part of the sales proceeds pays for the snacks themselves while the rest can fund your endeavor and make it a reality. In the past, chocolates used to be a safe choice for fundraisers as children love chocolates and hence making a generous profit out of chocolate fundraisers was quite simple. However, the situation has changed now.
Recent studies have shown a very concerning rise in the number of juvenile cases of diseases such as Type-2 diabetes. Along with such problems, the number of obese children is also on the rise. Conditions like obesity and diabetes in juveniles can lead to serious health problems. Most of these children will probably suffer from weakened joints and bones, heart conditions and kidney problems as a result of health problems at such a young age. The root cause behind such problems is the lifestyle of these kids. They do not exercise at all but consume food items rich in calories, saturated fats and sugar. Hence, there has been a recent shift towards healthier alternatives when it comes to food, especially for young children.
With health concerns in everybody’s mind, the chocolate fundraiser makes very little sense today. In fact, it will probably end up being more of a detriment than a benefit. Most states in the USA have already banned it through legislation. In fact, the California SB-12 specifies with great detail the type of snacks that are permissible for kids events such as fundraiser. With less than 35% of the calories of permissible food items coming from fats and the specified low sugar content, chocolates definitely do not make the cut.
While chocolate fundraisers were easy to organize and raise money, there are options today which make much more sense while keeping health concerns at bay. California fundraising snacks can be healthy as well as tasty as an alternative to conventional chocolates. Snacks such as fundraising rice krispies treats can be a great choice for any fundraiser today. What’s more, they make great sense from the financial point of view as well. You do not have to pay anything up front. The snacks, arranged in different packets according to prices, will be delivered right to you. On the day of the fundraiser you can ask the children to sell the snacks to their friends. The money they collect can be split in half, one half paying for the snacks themselves and the rest being the funds necessary for your team.
In the present scenario, a healthy fundraiser makes great sense from a legal, financial as well as medical point of view. Thus there is no reason why you should keep a chocolate fundraiser in your mind. Time to bid it goodbye forever and focus on better alternatives!
Posts Tagged ‘California SB 12’
Time to Give Up Chocolate Fundraising?
Thursday, September 17th, 2009Plan a Successful California High School Fundraiser
Thursday, September 17th, 2009The state of California has been a trendsetter as far as its implementation of the health laws concerning children are concerned. With more and more children and young adults being affected by obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, the government has enforced a law like California SB-12 that clearly sets out the portion of sugar, fats and saturated fats content in an individual snack. Therefore if you are associated with a school in California, you need to keep in mind the clauses of California SB-12 as you plan a successful California High School Fundraiser. Obesity occurs as a result of an imbalance in the amount of calories consumed and the amount spent. Therefore it is necessary to look what you eat. All these point towards one thing: it is time to give up chocolate fundraising.
When it comes to planning a successful California Fundraiser, these are a bit different from the fundraisers organized in other parts of the country. The teacher, club leader or the coach, whoever is assigned the task of organizing the fundraiser has to do so by complying with the guidelines set by the wellness policy of the school which in turn has to adhere by the California SB-12.
The person in charge therefore has to look for healthy fundraising solutions to make the event a success with the children and at the same time keep a tab on the fact their health is not compromised with. Therefore the coach or teacher has to work to find healthy fundraising solutions to this challenge.
A search for providers of healthy snacks can be made on the web, browsing through the lists of what they have on offer and then placing the order. One can place an order online or over the phone. The healthy snacks that are ordered are then delivered through FedEx ground. Once these are delivered, then the person at the helm of the fundraiser passes on these snack boxes to the students who volunteer for the fundraising event. The students are then asked to sell these to their peers and the money from the sales is handed in to the Coach or Teacher in charge. At the end of the event, the part of the money is given to providers of the healthy snacks and the remaining part of the proceeds is kept for the cause for which it had been raised.
The best thing about these fundraisers is the fact that each snack in these events has less than 35% sugar content, less than 10% saturated fats and less than 35% fat. There is a whole range of healthy snacks on offer and the kids can choose their favorites. California fundraising snacks include
Rice Krispies Treats and several delectable items.
Initially, right after the implementation of the California SB 12 in July 2007, fundraiser organizers might have thought that planning for the same would not be as easy as it was before. But the truth is that with the easy availability of healthy fundraising solutions, it is much the same.
Fundraising With Wellness in Mind
Thursday, September 17th, 2009Of all the wisdom that we pass on to our kids, a leaf from the book definitely says “health is wealth”. So as we teach them to take care of their most precious asset, the onus lies with the parents and the teachers to initiate the process. This holds true even when you, as a member of the PTA or as a teacher is working on organizing a fundraiser. The purpose of a fundraiser is clear but it should not be the focus of it all. There are other things that need equal attention and healthy fundraising is something that has caught the attention of one and all in the current times.
The reasons for this are many. Obesity has emerged as a threat to children and young adults of the country. It has attained endemic proportions and you can come across worried parents at every educational institution. The state legislature also recognizes the seriousness of the situation and hence its wellness policies to counter the increasing cases of obesity.
The schools should have a wellness policy in place so that the fundraisers are organized in accordance to the rules and regulations laid out in the same. The laws should be in tandem with Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. In fact the concern of the authorities is apparent from the fact that some of the states have a much stricter wellness policy in place that outscores even federal policy. Though the policy may vary slightly from one school to another, from one region to another, the basic guidelines remain the same. The task of formulating a wellness policy is left to the local authorities as they are the ones who are fully aware of the nutritional requirements of their respective communities. California has led the way for other states to follow its implementation of the California SB-12.
California fundraising snacks thereby have to abide by the norms set by the health department of the state. According to the law, each snack should have less than 10% of the calories from the saturated fats, less than 35% sugar by weight and less than 35% sugar by weight. Now the wellness policies of all California schools include this clause. The rules for elementary school fundraisers are different. After the introduction of the law in 2007, it has become compulsory for all California schools to follow these norms while organizing a fundraiser. A chocolate fundraiser is a strict no-no in all schools of the state.
Though it may appear that these wellness policies have hardly left any room for organizing a successful fundraiser, on the contrary, it has opened the gates for healthy fundraising solutions. There are healthy alternatives to all the junk food and the candies that the children gorged on as their parents almost freaked out. Fundraising Rice Krispies Treats and various other low calorie healthy snacks have taken the place of all the fatty and sugary stuff. Without compromising on the taste, these snacks are sure to be a runaway success with kids.
California High School Fundraising
Thursday, September 17th, 2009Thinking about organizing a California High School Fundraising event? It’s always a good idea to plan ahead. How do you plan to organize it? What snacks would be offered? All these areas need to be taken care of in organizing a successful fundraiser. Food is an important component when it comes to planning an event for the young adults.
With the rise in the number of obesity cases among children and young adults, parents and teachers have now become conscious about what and what not to include in their snacks. So when you are organizing a fundraiser, pay attention to what you are offering to the children. Healthy snacks can be a better alternative to all those burgers and fries, chips and candies, and so on.
Wondering how healthy snacks could be popular among kids? It’s true that young adults are more concerned about the taste of the snacks than its nutritional value. Interestingly there is a number of California fundraising snacks that combine health and taste and are perfect as an alternative to the calorie-packed unhealthy snacks that kids of today are accustomed to.
The concept of healthy fundraising is fast gaining popularity among all. Be it a cultural event or a sports competition, you can always opt for the healthier alternative when it comes to choosing the right snacks. And do you have any idea how many lesser calories are consumed? When healthy snacks are opted for, the young children consume less than 250 calories.
The increase in the number of Diabetes Type 2 patients, in the age group of 10-15 years, in recent years have prompted many US states to ban fundraisers that serve chips and burgers, chocolates and candies. Healthy fundraising alternatives on the other hand opt for snacks that have less than 35% sugar content, less than 35% fat content as well as less than 10% saturated fat content.
Be it crispy cereal bars in different flavors or reduced fat crackers, crunch crisps or corn nuts, fundraising snacks are available in a number of varieties. California High School Fundraising can be a sure success if you know what snacks to opt for. It is not necessary that whatever is healthy has to be tasteless. All your misconceptions would be cleared if you take a bite of the fundraising rice krispie treats!
With regard to the financial aspect of the fundraiser, healthy snacks often give the idea that a lot of money would be wasted. However this is not a correct perception. Healthy fundraising alternatives do not always involve huge expenditure. The prices are reasonable and the different packages in which the snacks are available are also designed keeping in mind the affordability factor.
Organize a Healthy Fundraising Policy
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Organizing a healthy fundraiser is not an overnight business. In fact you need to do meticulous planning and devote substantial time and energy, much more than you do in a organizing a regular fundraiser. The demand for healthy fundraising solutions has increased with obesity reaching endemic proportions amongst kids in the United States of America. It is a cause of concern amongst both parents and teachers and therefore has prompted them to abide by the nutritional regulations imposed by the states. The PTA has an important role to play in this regard as they are the driving force behind elementary school fundraisers. The school fundraisers are a great platform to promote the need for a healthy living as consumption of junk food, high on fats, saturated fats and sugar content, increase the chances of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in kids and young adults. Healthy fundraising alternatives would promote the need for healthy eating and nutrition amongst kids.
Schools play an important role in the development of children. Inculcating the right food habits also forms a part of their all round growth. Therefore the adoption of a health policy that serves as a guideline for organizing fundraisers, school functions, a la carte lines, intramural events, class snacks, school vending machines and extracurricular events is necessary. A school adopted healthy fundraising policy would thus be an official statement of the health policies that the school s going to follow while organizing the event.
A healthy fundraising policy needs to be developed after conducting extensive research of the health laws of the state and child nutrition. There has to be an effort in spreading the word and getting support for the same. This can be done with some help from the Parents Teachers Association, the School Health Advisory Council and the Public Health Partners. A rough draft needs to be prepared that has to be checked repeatedly for any mistakes. After the approval of the school board and the PTA comes the final step of adopting the policy.
With a proper healthy fundraising policy in place, it would become relatively easier to work on fundraisers in the future. People from the school who are responsible for the formulation of the healthy fundraising policy should also keep a tab on sponsorship policy, advertising policy, guidelines for the sale of food and beverage in schools and the recycling policy so that none of the norms are conflicting with each other.
The healthy fundraising policy will give the vendors an idea about the kind of food that you want for the fundraiser. Chips, fries, chocolates and pastries are a strict no-no. You can promote the event as one that follows all nutritional guidelines and there will be no dearth of active participation. With healthy alternatives to fried foods, the fundraiser will be a success with parents, teachers and most importantly the kids.
Nutritional Regulations Create School Fundraising Challenge
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Obesity is the major health concern all across the United States of America as 65% of the adult American population is found to be overweight. Available statistics indicate that almost 16% of the children in the country are overweight and the numbers are increasing with each passing day. Obesity is also the root cause for other health related issues like hypertension, cardiac problems, cancer, diabetes and orthopedic problems and 25% of children within the age group of five to ten have been found to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes. Lack of physical activity further worsens the condition.
The federal government has understood the role of the schools in countering the problem of child obesity and the legislation of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 was a step in that direction. The rising health costs also do not help much.
Given the present state of affairs, a number of nutritional regulations have been imposed to establish a healthy nutrition environment at the schools. This holds true especially for fundraising events. Implementation of laws like SB 12 has placed a ban on chocolate fundraisers that have an adverse effect on the health of children and young adults. The thrust is now on introducing healthy snack ideas that may prove to be healthy alternatives to the sweets and junk food that kids usually gorge on.
The food items that come under the purview of the nutritional guidelines include snacks, snack carts, desserts, school fundraisers, school vending machines, school stores and ala carte lines. As per the existing health norms, no food item can have 35% of calories from total fat, 35% sugar by weight and 10% calories from saturated fat. The healthy alternatives for children should contain zero trans fat.
In such a scenario, it is a challenge for fundraiser organizers, especially members of the PTA, who are into conceptualizing and working on an elementary school fundraising event. They have to keep in mind that children are far less likely to eat bland low calorie food, let alone enjoy it. Instead they should think of healthy fundraising solutions that do not compromise on the taste, are low on calories thereby complying with the nutritional guidelines and wellness policies.
Fundraising in a healthy manner will help you to raise a substantial amount of money from the event. There is nothing much you need to do except for ensuring the fact that the snacks at the fundraiser are healthy so that the kids can have a good time and their parents do not have to bother about what their child is eating. The kids will not mind donating from their pocket money and that too quite generously if what they get in return is worth it. Parents on their parts will not think twice before sending their child for a healthy fundraising event.
Elementary School Fundraising Made Easy
Monday, August 17th, 2009You must have planned several high school fundraisers, but while planning elementary school fundraisers, you need to think out of the box. Though the basics of the event remain the same, a major difference is the fact that these are for small children. The crowds at the fundraiser, the participants, are all toddlers and therefore you need to think of innovative ideas to encourage their interest and involvement in the event.
Working with children can be great fun but you also need to have a lot of patience while dealing with them. You need to present your ideas in a way that they appeal to the young volunteers so that they can convince their peers to participate as well. As one who has been assigned the task of organizing the elementary school fundraising event, you need to make the blue print yourself.
Lay down the instructions clearly so that there is no confusion amongst your team of young volunteers. Explain their tasks in a playful manner but make them feel that you are banking on their support to make it a successful event. This will make them realize their responsibility.
Deciding on the venue, time and date of the fundraiser undoubtedly top your priority list. But this time around you need to pay attention to the way you are going to decorate the venue. Bright banners, balloons and other colorful props will help attract the attention of the young students and they will be gradually interested to participate as well.
As far as money matters are concerned these are better not left to the kids. You can deal with the sellers and confirm their share from the sales. Once the event is over, you can look into the distribution of the funds.
Since it is meant for children, then the nature of the fundraiser should be as simple as its target audience. Direct sellers come across as the best option. Selling something at a nominal price will help to collect a significant amount. Kids, on their part, can utilize their pocket money for a good cause. This habit, if inculcated in them from their childhood, would eventually make them responsible citizens in the future.
Now what should be the products up for sale? Chocolate fundraising has been banned in most schools of the country by laws such as SB 12. Fried foods like wafers, burgers and pizzas are not a healthy option either. All these are high on fats, saturated fats and sugar and can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. You need to look for healthy fundraising solutions. Healthy snacks can serve your purpose as they are tasty and at the same time low on calories. Teachers and parents can breathe a sigh of relief, as their children will not be gorging on junk food any more.
