How to Plan Your Spring Color-A-Thon Fundraiser

 

It’s been a long, snowy winter here in the Midwest. Let’s warm up for spring with a Color-A-Thon fundraiser!

Spring is the perfect time to host a Color-A-Thon fundraiser because it is a fun, active, colorful event for participants and a great fundraiser for your school or organization.

People have been cooped up inside and have extra energy to burn off – many want to do it outside. The warmth of a spring fundraiser makes the event perfect for a first day of outdoor fun in the new year. Color-A-Thon fundraisers are also upbeat and colorful, which is sure to bring excitement and happiness to participants bored from a stretch of white winter woes.

Your community will be excited to participate and motivated to help raise funds for this fun, outdoor event. You can create up to 70% profit with your Color-A-Thon event!

You may be wondering though: where do I start to plan this fundraiser? We can sure help with that, because the time to start is now!

Here’s a run-through of the work you need to begin planning:

1. Donation-Based or Entrance Fee-Based Fundraisers

We have two variations on our most popular Color-A-Thon event: donation-based and entrance fee-based. The donation-based event uses a pledge site developed for each person to raise funds individually. We will provide you with donation envelopes and a prize reward program that gives people incentive to raise funds. This setup is ideal for elementary and middle school fundraisers.

Your other option is to have an entrance fee-based fundraiser which opens the event to the larger community. In this fundraiser, you choose the entrance fee cost (minimum of $30) which will include a color pack and t-shirt. We will provide a custom registration website for your event and will include a money management software to help you keep track of your profits.

2. Form a Planning Committee

The best events are never planned alone. Form a group of people that can help with the fundraiser planning tasks and delegate the work. This will ease the burdens of planning from one person’s shoulders and make the planning a team-oriented process.

3. Make a Schedule

Ensure you are meeting your fundraiser planning deadlines by making a timeline for when certain tasks need to be completed and assigning the tasks to a single member of your planning committee. Doing this will keep you organized and create timely goals for your team to accomplish.

4. Plan Time to Promote Your Event

You need time to get the word out and get people excited for your Color-A-Thon fundraiser. Start distributing materials or plan an outreach campaign far enough in advance that you give participants time to raise funds or commit to your event. We give you the posters and materials you need, you just need to use them in a timely manner to reach your community.

5. Find Volunteers to Manage and Facilitate the Event

Plan volunteers and their specific roles in advance to help at your event. Members of your community will be happy to support a fun and successful fundraiser, but give notice so there is no confusion on your fundraiser day. To stay organized, document your volunteers and their roles to track the remaining volunteers you need and coordinate volunteers the day of the event.

Spring is the best time to host a successful Color-A-Thon Fundraiser, and thankfully, it’s also just around the corner! Visit our website to get started.

Four Theme Ideas for Color Run Teams

Color-A-Thon runs are filled with color, laughter, and so much fun! With the explosion of color-a-thon runs, it can be a lot of fun to choose a theme for your team to dress up. When your team matches, you will really stand out and add to the fun!

1. Dr. Suess Characters

Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat are always a hit! They are famous for their crazy blue hair and red costumes. You can do this with just two people, or create a whole clan of “Things.” Choose a general Dr. Seuss theme and your team could be comprised of a variety of colorful characters! Your theme is sure to stand out from the crowd!

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jackeline M. Perez Rivera via Wikimedia Commons

2. Disney Princesses

Calling all Disney lovers! This theme is perfect for a big team since there are so many princesses to choose from. Since each princess wears a different color, it will be fun to see what the dresses look like after a color run! For a fresh spin, instead of dressing like your favorite princess, dress up as your favorite Disney villain!

3. 101 Dalmatians

This theme is perfect for a color run. Since this theme is mostly white, the colors will really show up well. You can even go as far as painting your face white, then see how it changes after all the color.

4. Superheros

Who doesn’t want to dress up as their favorite superhero? Now is your chance! All you need to do is have everyone in your group choose a different superhero character and you will surely conquer the run! Gather your masks (which are sure to make some cool patterns!) and capes to match your favorite superhero, or make up your own!

Photo by JD Hancock via Flickr

Whichever theme you choose, your Color-A-Thon will surely be a blast! Now, get your team together and start planning! Do you have a favorite team theme? Comment below!

How To Prepare For A Race

As the weather gets warmer, it is time to start enjoying the outdoors again! Fundraising organizations across the nation are already planning spring and summer events - the most popular being a 3K or a 5K. Color runs, especially, have become very popular in the last few years and are a successful way to raise money. Participants vary in experience and often times have never participated in a running event before. Thankfully, that doesn’t stop those of us who just want to help! If you’ve decided to take part in a 3K or 5K fundraiser, check out the tips below to get you started:

Register

There are a variety of different races that have their own format, including donation-based and fee-based runs. To begin, register with the organization setting up the event because there are many ways to enter and many ways to show your support. Fundraising runs not only help you with your fitness goals but also help the community at large.

Get the right equipment

It is important to find the right type of running equipment to make your race a success. Visiting a local running specialty store can help you with a professional fitting, as well as other accessories that will help make your race a triumph.

Make a plan

Making a plan requires creating a training program that best fits your level of fitness. Beginners should start off with walking then work their way up to running and walking intervals. The eventual goal should is to be able to run without stopping. Make sure to listen to your body and find a pace that fits your abilities.

Begin training

Start your training one step at a time. Make sure to do a proper warm-up of one to three minutes before your run and always stay hydrated before and after. Most newbie runners make the mistake of running too much too soon, which leads to injury and discouragement. A little progress goes a long way. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

Breathe

Breathing is extremely important when running. It is best to breathe through both your mouth and your nose to help your working muscles. Breathing in every two to four steps and out every two to four steps will help train your body to have an effective breathing pattern.

Recovery

The body grows stronger at rest after a run. Do not push yourself to run if you feel your body isn’t ready. Your body will tell you when it is ready. What you can do during your recovery periods is get a good amount of sleep and eat well-balanced meals. And, of course, stay hydrated.

You now have the tools you need to successfully complete a run. Now it is up to you to challenge yourself and start your 3K, 5K, or other running adventure. Visit schoolathon.org to learn more about hosting your own fundraiser.

Holiday Themed Color-A-Thon

Have you ever had problems creating a fun fundraising event in during the winter season? There’s no need to keep your event contained to four walls when you have the option of keeping warm with a School-A-Thon run! Traditional events like our Color-A-Thon runs are a great option for holiday fundraisers, but we have some fun holiday ideas that can spice up your fundraising while keeping you and your fellow fundraisers active in the great outdoors.

Promote Jolly Joggers

Grab your favorite reindeer and put on your Santa hat for a fun filled Christmas run. You can entice people to dress up in their best Christmas costumes by giving out prizes for best Santa, Elf, Reindeer etc. Don’t forget to put out snacks at the finish line for all the festive participants. Have a table that has milk and cookies for the Santa’s along with some healthy carrots for the reindeer.

Image by Michael Dorausch via Flickr

Break out the Beards...

Another fun idea that are along the same lines is to provide your runners with Santa hats and beards and have them dress the part. Not only will your runners be festive, but it will draw attention to your cause to see a pack of Santa’s running down the streets of the run.

Image by DebMomOf3 via Flickr

...And the Ugly Sweaters

Why not put a twist on a classic holiday party with an ugly Christmas sweater themed run? Encourage participants to get creative with their sweaters and have the ultimate ugly sweater ready to give away as a prize.

Candy All the Way

Show your Christmas cheer with a candy cane run. Line the race trail with candy canes and holiday decorations instead of cones and have a couple ready to give away to participants. You could also have a gingerbread making station and hot chocolate to get supporters involved.

The Reason for the Season

The Holiday season is a great time to give back to those in need. You could set up a toy drive or food drive at the race where people can bring a toy for kids or canned food for those families who can not afford meals.

There are plenty of ideas to keep your fundraising fun this holiday season, it’s up to you to choose! Visit Schoolathon.org for more ideas on taking your “THON” from bland to grand this holiday season and all winter long!

Get off the Couch and Have Some FUN: 10 fun ways to keep your family fit and healthy

Remember the days when being inside meant doing chores? Was it hard for your mother to get you to come inside the house for dinner?

Times have changed.

With all of the entertainment geared at kids through your computer, cell phone, television, or other electronic devices, a huge portion of a typical kid’s day is spent indoors.

We here at School-A-Thon believe healthy, happy kids need quality time outside. So, here are ten exercise activities to do with your kids to keep them active - and having fun while doing it.

1. Take a Stroll to the Park

Spending the afternoon at a park is a great way to get out of the house and burn some calories. Push your kids on the swing set, follow them down the slide or play a game of tag; not only will your kids have active fun, but we’re thinking you’ll be laughing and out of breath along with them.  

2. Have a Water Balloon Fight

Having a good old fashioned water balloon fight is a fun way to cool off and make lifelong memories.

3. Go to the Beach

Pack a picnic and spend a day at the beach with the family. Swimming is a fun way to absentmindedly work lots of muscle groups and have a blast! Don’t forget to bring floaties, snorkels, and a beach ball for water games as well as buckets and shovels to make a mansion of a sand castle.

4. Hit the rides at an Amusement Park

Going to an amusement park can tire a person of any age, but will also be a ton of FUN! Take a day trip and splurge with your family - but don’t forget to bring the sunscreen!

5. Take a hike at the State Park

Enjoy a little nature in the good ‘ol outdoors with a family hike to the nearest state park or any good, local hiking trail.  

6. Play Yard Games

Whether it be jumping on the trampoline, playing hide and seek, building an obstacle course, playing fetch with the dog, jumping in the leaves or playing catch, spending a few hours outside in your own backyard can be great for your health and fun for the whole family!

7. Have a competition

See who can stand on one leg the longest, race them across the yard, have a hula-hoop competition, see who can do the best summersault, cartwheel or dance move; the possibilities are endless!

8. Go to the County Fair

There are so many fun things to see at the fair,  you’ll spend more of the time on your feet. From watching the horse show, touring the animal barns, going on the rides and attending a grand stand event, the calories you burn from walking around are countless. (Just remember not to eat too much deliciously fried fair food.)

9. Go for a Walk

Go for a stroll around the neighborhood. Leash up the dog, push the stroller or just enjoy a peaceful walk in some familiar surroundings.

10. And last, but certainly not least: Visit your Relatives!!!

Whether it be your parents (your kid’s grandparents) your sisters or brothers, aunts and uncles, etc… Visiting relatives is good for your whole family. Watch your kids run around the yard, play a game of charades, tag, a ball game or just visit with family. There are a ton of options here, and the memories you make will be cherished for years to come.

There are many fun activities to do with the whole family that can help to be more fit, active, happy, less stressed and healthier! The list of the benefits could go on and on.

The partners at School-A-Thon want every family to be healthy and happy - so much, in fact, that they decided to create Color-A-Thon.

Color-A-Thon is an educational fundraiser in a league of it’s own. It’s an innovative, profitable, and fun event that schools all over the country are using to put a splash of color into their thon and experience phenomenal profit while providing a unique, community based event for all ages. If you are interested in learning more about Color-A-Thon, liked all of our fun, active family ideas, or have some more ideas of your own, please feel free to comment below and let us know your thoughts! We would love to hear from you.

The Benefits of Staying Fit and Active

There’s an epidemic blazing a trail through the US, and it’s not slowing down.

That epidemic? Childhood obesity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity - defined as 40 or more pounds overweight - has more than doubled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents. The specific breakdown is especially alarming; 18% of all US children ages 6-11 were determined to be obese in 2012, and 21% of youth between 12-19 in the same year.

So why does it matter? Well, as we are all fully aware, obesity - at any age - opens the door to a host of devastating health problems, including but not limited to heart disease, diabetes, chronic illness and musculoskeletal conditions.

Now, while the tendency to become overweight does appear more frequently in certain families, a healthy, active lifestyle and a proper diet is simply the best pair of combatants against the dangers of obesity.

Here at School-A-Thon, we encourage kids of all fitness and weight levels to get busy exercising...and there are a lot of awesome dividends beyond healthy weight! Here are a few:

1) Kids who set healthy exercise habits are far more likely to continue them into adulthood.

2) Kids who exercise build strong bones, muscles and joints, which fortify against injuries.

3) Exercise sharpens the mind, builds concentration and promotes increased awareness.

4) Kids who exercise are far less likely to suffer from insomnia.

5) Exercise - especially when it comes to sports and teams - is directly linked to a strong self-image and positive peer relationships.

6) Studies show active kids are far les likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or attention disorders.

 

 

Frankly, that’s a short list. The reasons to get your kids committed to physical fitness are endless...and we’re here to help! Our School-A-Thon Color-A-Thon 3k runs are tried, tested and smash hits with students everywhere. Not into running? Color-A-Thon’s are good for any fitness level, you can run, walk, or move at this event. Let us know if we can help - after all, fitness and proper health shouldn’t be a chore - they should be fun!

School-A-Thon: Your new fun-fundraising alternative!

The school year will be back before we know it - and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about ways to support your kids’ school!

School-A-Thon’s new concept offers another fun fundraising alternative!

With School-A-Thon, we work with you to get your fundraising events off the ground. We’ll help you design a wildly successful pledge event.

You can even choose to have your School-A-Thon event finish with our signature Color-A-Thon Walk/Run! Color runs - those 3-5k runs that blast runners with colorful dust at certain intervals -  have seen a massive spike in popularity in the last couple of years, enticing folks who might not usually sign up for 5K fitness events to get on board!   

Color-A-Thons are memory-makers for family and friends - and they highlight a key belief of School-A-Thon; raising money shouldn’t be a chore! It should: be fun, unite your community, and always be profitable!

School-A-Thon is everywhere!

Look for our half page ad in the upcoming issue of PTO Today. You can also find School-A-Thon on the PTO Today Yellow Pages site.

Check it out yourself at: http://www.ptotoday.com/yellowpages/category/a-thons/

We want to make it easy for you to find us, contact us and get started on one of the most fun, colorful ways to raise funds for your school or group.