<p>My DD has applied for a few summer programs... and they all offer financial aid... but ONLY partial.. meaning that I would be responsible for the remaining balance. Any ideas on fund raising?? I have already asked her GC if she is aware of any scholarships for summer programs... but she hasn't a clue...</p>
<p>I would love any ideas you have... :) Thank you.</p>
<p>College or high school student?</p>
<p>This will depend a lot on grandparent finances… but in some case grandparents are happy to chip in for interesting opportunities. My dad paid for half of my “son’s half” for a wonderful Europe trip in hs.</p>
<p>I am not getting this, what do you mean by fund raising? She does not need to go to an expensive summer program. She could get a job to earn some money to pay for the trip, or you could get a second job to pay for it. When I hear of fund raising, I think of asking other people to help to pay for your daughter’s trip, and why would people be interested in doing that?</p>
<p>Our kids asked for birthday/Christmas presents to help with these programs…and they both worked too.</p>
<p>I would think that if you couldn’t afford the program, maybe it would be better for her to get a summer job? There is another thread right now about the merits of summer jobs.</p>
<p>My S went on a trip to El Salvador during Spring Break of his senior year. It was a missionary trip designed to help orphans. He asked local businesses if they would be willing to make donations in the form of merchandise. He then printed up some raffle tickets and sold them for $3 each or 2 for $5. He made over $600 doing this and could have made more if he had given himself more time.</p>
<p>You could also purchase/ask for donations at a local women’s spa. You know… hair, nails, and facial… the “pamper her” package. Raffle tickets and sell the package for Mother’s Day. Just an idea. Good luck.</p>
<p>Raffles - Be careful and know the local and state laws. NJ laws are strict. I think, but could be wrong, that PA won’t permit a minor to sell raffles.</p>
<p>Oldfort - Many programs encourage the kid to do “fund raisers” and even have tips on their websites. I initially agreed with your thought process, but then I watched a kid take “fund raising” into a self-employed business trying to fund a HS summer program at Brown. The girl made crafts and sold them at local holiday bazaars from Oct - Dec. Learned many valuable skills and improved self esteem. </p>
<p>Another idea I have heard of, but did not personally know the person, was trash-picking/yard sale hopping and then re-selling on Craigs List. </p>
<p>OP - it sounds like you are looking for money for this summer. The time table could be tight.</p>
<p>Yes, many programs encourage kids to do fund raising because they want those kids to attend. For me, fund raising is to raise money for less fortunate, it is not to benefit oneself on something that’s nice to have.</p>
<p>Making crafts and selling them is a job, no different than working in a mall.</p>
<p>Just do not participate, find more rewarding and free experiences.</p>
<p>We had neighbors who sent a child on People to People twice. They were forever accosting everyone in the neighborhood to participate in their spaghetti dinners, garage sales, raffles, etc. </p>
<p>The thing is that most of the people who are accosted and solicited for donations have kids of their own, kids who also asked if they could go on a 6000 trip to India instead of getting a job for the summer. Most of us were baffled as to why the fundraiser would think that adults who don’t want to purchase their experience for their own child would be so eager to help fund it for the neighbor’s child. It got to the point where we all avoided the family so as not to have to get shaken down once again for a donation. (There was another family in our town who had a child with cancer, and I think many of us decided if there was a choice to be made among fundraisers and donations, the second family was clearly the more deserving and the one that should receive the support.)</p>
<p>These days, even our kids’ schools have finally stopped pushing the popcorn and the apple pies and raffles. They seem to understand that people are tapped out, suffering financially, and it’s kind of unfair to knock on the door of a family that might be in foreclosure and pressure them into buying something they don’t need and can’t afford.</p>
<p>Come and do my yard work. I’ll pay good money. And I won’t ask what you’d do with the money you earned from me.</p>
<p>Someone please enlighten me; What is the difference between begging and self-serving fund raising?</p>
<p>Miamidap, didn’t you say on another thread that your area didn’t even have volunteer opportunities for your daughter during the summer?</p>
<p>I’m sorry but I agree that fundraising is not something that should be done for personal gain. If you can’t afford this program, she doesn’t go. That is just how it works. Most of these “opportunities” are not what they seem and are just glorified travel agencies…</p>
<p>I’d like to visit Australia this summer for educational purposes. Please PM your credit card number to me asap! :)</p>
<p>"Miamidap, didn’t you say on another thread that your area didn’t even have volunteer opportunities for your daughter during the summer? "</p>
<p>-Yes. That is why she had to do everything, all her incredible ECs during school year, it was nothing in a summer.<br>
In regard to People to People, D. has received invitation many times, she knew that we are not going to send her because of cost. However, she has gone to expansive trips many times, when we felt we could afford it and it was worth it. She is still going this summer to work at clinics and we will pay for that. She is honored to be selected for opportunity that had only 10 spots. We did not ask ANYBODY to fund it. It sounds incredulous, but yes, we will pay for her trip although she will be working very hard there while we will be worrying about her safety.</p>
<p>Here is an old thread about People to People. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/617175-people-people-ambassador-scam.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/617175-people-people-ambassador-scam.html?</a> My s’s got “nominated” for it many times. We went to one meeting once becuase a friend was going to be leading one of the trips. It came across as a glorified, expensive teen tour. We threw all the subsequent “nominations” in the circular file.</p>
<p>My kids did ALL of their ECs during the school year. They worked during the summer OR attended a summer program which WE funded (no fundraisers). Summer programs were related to their ECs…which were incredible.</p>
<p>Well I think working is an EC. It might not be glamourous or prestigious, but my kids sure seemed to love their camp counselor jobs- even as they complained about it.
My youngest mourned when she realized she needed to make more money.
Spending the summer on a rural island in Puget Sound was hard to give up!</p>
<p>WorldisHerOyster -</p>
<p>The general consensus appears to be that if you can’t afford it with whatever scholarship the program offers, that program should be off the table. This means that your daughter may need to be thinking about other options for the summer.</p>
<p>To start with, what kinds of programs are offered by colleges and universities that are within commuting distance? My niece attended several of those while in HS. Most were only one or two weeks long, so the time and money commitment weren’t horrible for the family. Are there any summer camps that offer related activities that she could help out with or serve as a counselor for? One theater camp was delighted to create a summer internship for Happykid when they found out she was interested in lighting design and stagecraft.</p>