PTA Fundraising

Berkeley PTA Council

California State PTA Online

Sally Foster Gift Wrap, Peet's cards, fundraising letters, the Carnival Silent Auction. Do you ever wonder what happens to the money raised through these annual and ongoing Thousand Oaks activities?

Every year, the Thousand Oaks PTA uses these programs to raise support for teachers, classrooms, and school-wide initiatives. Last year, members of the T.O. community contributed a total of $50,000 through donations and purchases—a few dollars at a time. The bulk of these funds went straight into classrooms through the Classroom Grant program, which provides a cash grant to each teacher for field trips, new books, science materials, writing supplies, computer software, flashcards, photography equipment, and much more. In addition, the PTA helped cover the costs of bringing the Julia Morgan performing arts program to the K-3 classes, a series of trips to the Oakland Museum of California for the 4th graders, and a special year-end visit to the Marin Headlands Institute for the 5th graders.

This year, the PTA's fundraising efforts will pay for the K-3 classes to work with professional artists from MoCHA, the Museum of Children's Art, to integrate visual arts as a foundation from which to build reading, writing, social science, mathematics, and even science skills. The PTA is also raising funds to help T.O. pay for a computer specialist to ensure that the computer classroom can provide high-quality, relevant and effective instruction to the 4th and 5th graders.

The PTA also uses contributions to help strengthen the T.O. community, through annual events like Feliz Fridays, Math Night, the Science Fair, and especially the Spring Carnival. These special events give families and children a chance to socialize, learn, and celebrate!

This year, it is easier than ever to make a donation-or to sign up for monthly contributions-through our newly launched on-line giving system. Just click on the Donate Now button above. Or, just keep an eye open for our fundraising letter in the next few weeks.

The generosity of the Thousand Oaks community—in both time and money—makes it possible for the PTA to support the essential work of our teachers and to ensure that our children gain the knowledge, skills, and training they need to succeed in school and in life. We are grateful for your support.

For more information, contact Carol Torrez McKillop (gabbyetal@earthlink.net) or Gwyneth Galbraith (gwynethg@earthlink.net or 527.6537)