<p>MizzBee–going out on a limb here but the fact that the OP has 3 posts and hasn’t returned to this thread leads me to believe that A, she is a ■■■■■ and B, it’s a “glossy brochure” program. Also, “selection” for rotary programs usually comes with financial backing to attend, at least around here, from the local rotary…and, a year to study abroad is not a once in a life time opportunity, he could have spent 4 years in college on a “study abroad” program-or heck, take it all the way to a PhD and you have what 12 years…and if mom is that poor-it would have been pretty close to free for those years with FA.</p>
<p>Truthfully, if I were the OP and this post was indicative of how we treat each other on CC, I would not have come back either. I would have been scared, or felt shame for even asking the question. With a new poster, I don’t immediately think ■■■■■. I remember when I first started posting. I am lucky that I was initially treated with kindness and respect for my ignorance. I think we get a little harsh with each other on here from time to time, and this thread isn’t that bad compared to some.
We have a strange set of values here, as evidence in the “What we can agree on”. We are a diverse group, but we seem to forget that. Money brings out very personal defenses in many of us.</p>
<p>fundraise (ˈfʌndˌreɪz) </p>
<p> vb
to raise money for a cause</p>
<p>(oddly enough the definition of fundraise does not include the word beg. but i must admit i did laugh when i saw your post momzie. it was smart.)</p>
<p>steveMA,</p>
<p>i would happily give you my cc number if your world cruise was a on a solar powered boat and you stopped at every dock in every port to promote a cease and desist on the use of fossil fuels.</p>
<p>i would willingly permit that supporting frivolous endeavors, like a sea cruise, would be absurd if it did not have a purpose i personally supported.</p>
<p>however, the original poster, as far as i can see, never stated what the summer programs were for. that was not the question. they just wanted some fundraising ideas. what is wrong with just giving some fundraising advise. why the criticism and judgement? some of it quite condescending. </p>
<p>additionally steveMA, i can guarantee that despite our low income, my S and I will have a large chunk of debt at the end of his four years of college. are you really under the impression that low-income kids get free rides? talk about being uninformed. </p>
<p>and MizzBee, i can only say that you are awesome! and you made my point much better than i did. (hard to argue when one is all het up.)</p>
<p>Psm</p>
<p>I don’t think this is a ■■■■■ thread (and this is from someone who is admittedly quick to smell a ■■■■■ a mile away). I agree with those who say that the responses here have been mixed and in several cases harsh. That said, perhaps if a term other that “fundraising” was used a different set of responses might have ensues. Often posters ping off of one particular word or turn of a phrase and it sets the tone for the thread.</p>
<p>I am active in volunteer organizations, and I find that the organizations tend to come to the volunteers first for donations. At first I didn’t get this-- preferring that they reach out to others, not to the same cast of characters who are already giving. But I now better understand that the likelihood of getting a donation is higher from those already giving. So I get why people turn to friends and neighbors when they are fundraising.</p>
<p>If a kid is trying to raise funds to attend a special program, it should be, IMO, the KIDS project, not the parents. My kids babysat, fixed computers, helped older students move into their dorms and set up their computer networks, etc to raise money for their activities. Perhaps the OP’s child has a talent that hes/she can “market” to raise funds?</p>
<p>poorsinglemom–“define” chunk of debt (rhetorical btw). Not misinformed at all, there are plenty of options out there for low income students to go to school for little or no cost and debt free, especially if they are an above average to top student. Getting selected to that Rotary program suggests your son falls into that category.</p>
<p>poorsinglemom, if the low income kid is able to get into the right school, he will indeed be able to graduate with very little debt. I can personally testify to that. </p>
<p>That’s a big if, of course. Not too many places genuinely meet need with no, or extremely minimal, loans.</p>
<p>I said way upthread that I thought people were coming down far too hard on the OP. The problem with this topic, like many others, is that it is a hot button to some, and comes with all kinds of preconceptions that posters tend to offload onto a person innocently asking a question.</p>
<p>My cousin is on a (gap) year abroad through Rotary. Rotary paid for most of the program but she had to pay airfare and some other costs, and that wasn’t cheap. She spent a TON of time writing essays, interviewing, etc competing for that spot, and will help others in turn when she comes back.</p>
<p>The thing about fundraising is, people are free to give or not give. Clearly some people posting here would not give, and some would. Some would buy a service or product in support, some might not do that. Regardless, some good ideas are here in this thread if hte OP would like to pick through the criticism for them.</p>
<p>fundraise (ˈfʌndˌreɪz) </p>
<p>— vb
to raise money for a cause</p>
<p>In my view, sending a kid to a special EC program is not a cause (it´s a personal issue), feeding hungary is a cause.</p>
<p>My niece sent letters asking for “sponsorships” for a three week summer EF European tour. She promised to send a post card (from a city you selected from a list) for sponsorships of at least $20. Also, there were matching funds (from her parents?) for those who responded by a certain date.</p>
<p>I bit my tongue and sent a check.</p>
<p>That´s begging.</p>
<p>marlene–did she have “a cause”? :D</p>
<p>No cause. She attends a smallish private school that arranges these (optional) trips for interested students. Usually they are promoted as extras for students in art or language classes.</p>
<p>To top it off, the letter was enclosed in the family’s chrismtas card.</p>
<p>*To top it off, the letter was enclosed in the family’s chrismtas card. *</p>
<p>Now THAT is chutzpah.</p>
<p>
poorsinglemom:
I don’t think anyone on the thread is saying to ‘not make any attempt to try and afford’ the trip. I think what most of us are saying is that the ‘way’ to afford it is by earning the money rather than just asking for a cash handout. There are lots of ways to earn money including working p/t, yard work, house painting, babysitting, garage sales, car washing, and any other area where the kid can offer a service in exchange for money. Just asking for a cash handout from friends and family is just taking advantage of the relationship and putting them in an awkward position. </p>
<p>You say you’re doing a lot of community service. That’s great but if it’s at the expense of earning enough income to do what you want to do, such as have your S go on a trip like this, you could consider reducing the service hours and working more. It sounds as if you’re deciding to balance it like you have it.</p>
<p>And while the trip was probably great for your S and would be for many other people as well, the fact is that the vast majority of college students DON’T do a year long study abroad and manage to go on to successful careers and lives so it is in fact a ‘luxury’. </p>
<p>Regarding the OP - maybe the OP was a ■■■■■ or not but the OP asked for ideas and I think plenty of them have been provided by the responses on this thread including the suggestion to work for the money rather than go door to door asking for a handout. If the OP wants the kid to be able to do the trip then earning the money is a viable way to do that.</p>
<p>I think PSM said her kid already has a job. In some families, kids work to help support the family.</p>
<p>People are obviously coming from all directions on this thread. Luckily, we can pick and choose what we support or don’t. Surely, the OP got some good ideas on this thread for earning/raising money. She probably also got a bit more opinion about the whole process than she needed or wanted. </p>
<p>There have been things I told my daughter that she could not apply for things because they were too expensive.</p>
<p>I agree that the OP deserved better treatment than she got (from me, too). How easy it is to jump on the bandwagon when it hits a nerve.</p>
<p>I don’t think I need to add to the recommendations that others have made to earn/raise money.</p>
<p>From looking at OP’s posts, her daughter is a sophomore and wants to be a doctor. I do not have any STEM kids, but I know there are some competitive, all expenses paid experiences. It’s probably too late for this summer, but would be a great opportunity for next summer. I would suggest that the OP search CC for them. I am not familiar enough to make suggestions.</p>
<p>There seem to be a lot of good summer STEM programs, especially for girls, that are free or near free or offer generous aid. I’ll repeat that there is a forum here on CC devoted to summer programs and there is a lot of discussion of them there.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I didn’t read that as the theme of the thread at all. My response, for example, was to discourage the OP from looking at a lot of the pricey summer camps if it was such one. Neither I (with money), nor others (without money) should bother and should stay closer to home.</p>
<p>Of course if the OP had provided details at the outset (or came back to provide them): about the program itself and what they meant by fundraising, we could have been much more helpful.</p>
<p>I’m always offended when I see students collecting money so the choir or cheerleaders or whatever can go to somewhere for a competition. Hold a car wash, have a bake sale, offer something of value in exchange for cash, but don’t just beg for a donation for a nice, but entirely unnecessary jaunt. I have higher priorities for my cash than to subsidize a summer or vacation program for someone else’s kid.</p>
<p>As for the distasteful fundraising efforts described earlier in the thread for a People to People trip–the organization actively encourages getting sponsorships and doing fundraising. It’s how they counter concerns about the high cost of the sightseeing trips. This sort of thing is one several elements that taint People to People.</p>