CATCH Offers Tips to Give School Fundraisers
a Healthy
Boost
Did you know that 82% of schools use food and beverages
in fundraising? Of these schools, 76% sell chocolate while another
67% sell cakes, cookies and other baked goods.* But fundraisers
involving the sale of unhealthy food items are starting to decline.
The New York Times recently featured an article on the fall
of bake sales in schools across the country. In the article, Jamie Chriqui,
a senior research scientist with the Institute for Health Research and
Policy at the University of Illinois in Chicago, remarked, "Five
hundred to six hundred school districts nationwide now have policies that
limit the amount of fat, trans fats, sodium and sugars in food sold or
served at school, with the strictest rules directed at elementary schools." These
policies are not only being reflected in the food served in cafeterias,
but also the choices in school fundraisers.
If your school plans to hold a fundraiser this year, why not trade
in candy bars and cookies for events that boost your health, as
well as funds. Here are some healthy suggestions from
Coordinated Approach To Child Health
(CATCH®):
Get moving! Many people have participated in
a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon but why not try the following:
• Bowl-a-thon - a dollar a pin can add up!
• Swim-a-thon - how many laps can you do?
• Dance-a-thon - break out some moves to your favorite tunes!
• Jump-a-thon - gets that heart rate up!
• Car wash - sweatin' with suds!
Go green! Sell healthy food items, things that
improve the environment and promote well-being:
• Boxes of fruit - everyone can enjoy tasty treats like apples, pears and citrus fruits!
• Plants and flowers - beautify your surroundings!
• Packets of vegetable seeds - proceeds can go towards a vegetable garden for your
school or for a child-sized salad bar in your cafeteria.
• Subscriptions to health and wellness magazines - encourage reading and a healthy
lifestyle!
Get your creative juices flowing! Break open
those crayon boxes and pick up a paint brush to design something
special:
• Hold an art contest where students create "healthy posters" -
pick 12 of them,
create
a calendar and sell them through your PTA/PTO.
• Students, parents and school staff can collaborate on the creation of a school
cook book to sell in your neighborhood
Award participation in a healthy way! There are
other items besides sweets that you can use to recognize students'
participation in your school's fundraiser. Why not hand out:
• Jump ropes
• Balls
• Flying disks
• Activity spots for exercise at home
• Hoops
• Award the school's top fundraisers with items such as a badminton or bowling sets,
a bean bag game, or a ring toss set.
Contact us for more information on CATCH!
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