THE PTC PRESS Jogathon Edition
RIDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY 2019
The Ridgewood Jogathon is a special time of tradition, celebration, and community. It is an opportunity for students, staff, parents, neighbors, and alumni to come together and show support for the school our little Roadrunners call home. This year, our fundraising will begin on Friday, October 4th and our students will run on October 18th.
The Jogathon is the only major fundraiser at Ridgewood, and it alone raises enough money to support the many programs, events, and activities funded by the PTC each year. The most important thing to remember is that every penny raised by Ridgewood students stays right here in our classrooms (for a complete list of how PTC funds are used, please refer to the below article).
October 18th – the day of our Jogathon – will be a celebration of Ridgewood’s students and our huge supportive community! We encourage you to join us, either in a volunteer role or to come cheer on our kids. Each grade level has an assigned time slot when they run around the track, and the more cheers the better!
In this special Jogathon edition of the PTC Press, you will find all the information you need to support your student in their Jogathon fundraising efforts. Please take the time to read through it, and don’t hesitate to reach out to fundraising@ridgewoodPTC.org if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for all you do to support the Ridgewood PTC!
Amy Ottaway & Kelly Ruhl
Jogathon Co Chairs
WHAT IS THE JOGATHON?
WHAT: Jogathon is Ridgewood's only major fundraiser. Students earn money for our school through flat donations (no per-lap pledges, please) from family, friends, and neighbors. Students and teachers (and parents too!) will run/jog/walk around the track for 20 – 30 minutes depending on grade level.
WHEN: Friday, October 18th during school hours
WHERE: The Ridgewood track
WHY: All money (100%) raised goes to the Ridgewood PTC to support enrichment activities. The Jogathon puts the “fun” in “funding.” It is critical to Ridgewood. Jogathon raises money for OUR SCHOOL and pays for all the extras that benefit our kids!
JOGATHON | TIMELINE OF EVENTS
October 4: Jogathon Kick Off Assembly | Pledge Packets go home with students
October 8: Lunch Raffle | Prizes at all three lunches
October 10: Lunch Raffle | Prizes at all three lunches
October 15: Lunch Raffle | Prizes at all three lunches
October 17: Lunch Raffle | Prizes at all three lunches
October 18: J O G A T H O N !
October 23: Pledge envelopes due
November 6: Prizes will be awarded
WHERE DOES ALL THE HARD EARNED MONEY GO?
All of the money raised through the Jogathon goes directly to the Ridgewood PTC and helps fund many programs and activities that take place at Ridgewood through the year. The most important thing to remember is that all of the money donated stays right here in our classrooms, for students and teachers. See below for some of the many items your fundraising efforts help pay for annually. These are thing our kids would not have access to if Ridgewood didn't have the active, involved parent group we do. Your commitment to Jogathon fundraising helps the kids continue to have access to many experiences that greatly enrich their education each year.
PLEDGE PACKET & PLEDGESTAR INFORMATION
HOW DOES IT WORK?
During the two weeks prior to Jogathon, your student(s) are
encouraged to collect donations from friends, family, neighbors
and grandparents! These donations can be collected in various
ways:
1. Place cash or check into the Jogathon pledge envelope
provided to your student and be sure to record the donation
on the packet cover.
2. Use PledgeStar, a secure online web-based fundraising
system. Through PledgeStar, you can create your
child(ren)’s own personal webpage and email pledge
requests to those on your list. Friends and family are able
to make secure credit card donations online that will count
towards your child’s fundraising total. The program even
divides pledges among multiple children in the household.
To set up your PledgeStar account, please visit
3. Corporate Matches! Many employers will match your
donation dollar for dollar, giving you the opportunity to
double the amount received by Ridgewood! Please check
to see if your employer has a matching program, and be
sure to provide the appropriate documentation in your
student’s pledge envelope. Questions? Email
LUNCHTIME RAFFLES!!
There will be raffles at each lunch on the following dates. Two winners will be awarded for each grade level. Get those PledgeStar accounts set up!!
October 8: Have you created your PledgeStar account?
October 10: Have you sent out 10 emails via Pledgestar?
October 15: Have you received 5 donations via PledgeStar?
October 17: Have you received $25 in donations via PledgeStar?
2019 CORPORATE SPONSORS
HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER ON THE DAY OF JOGATHON?
Click HERE to log in to the MyVP system.
- Scroll down to Events - Jogathon
- Find your grade and teacher snd sign up
- Shifts are also available for set up and clean up. We would love the help!
- Contact Kelly Ruhl or Amy Ottaway with questions: fundraising@ridgewoodptc.org
Volunteers, please remember to come around the side of the building to check in under the covered area by the track. We will have sign in sheets, volunteer and visitor stickers and everything you need for your volunteer shift. See you at Jogathon!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. CAN I COME WATCH THE RIDGEWOOD JOGATHON? CAN I BRING GRANDMA, UNCLE JOE, MY TODDLER, MY NEIGHBOR, AND THE FAMILY DOG?
YES! Well, everyone except the dog, unfortunately. We do, however highly encourage parents, siblings, friends, distant relatives, and supportive neighbors to come line the track and cheer on our runners. Remember, parking can be difficult at Ridgewood during events. Plan to arrive early to find a place to park in our adjacent neighborhoods.
If you are coming to watch, please walk around the outside of our school to the track. Please do not enter the building as we still have important learning taking place inside. We have volunteer and visitor check in stations on the side of the building by the track. Refer to our Run Times to see what time your student’s grade will be participating.
2. CAN I RUN WITH MY CHILD?
Yes! The Ridgewood Jogathon is a community event. We have a LOT of fun, and we need your help to make sure every student on the track is enjoying themselves. If your kid wants you to run with them, go for it! Or if your child needs an extra boost and mom or dad running a lap or two would help…by all means, get out on the track and show off your speed!
3. HOW CAN I HELP?
Volunteers are needed the day of the event to help with set up, take down, and logistics. It is a FUN day! Each classroom will need parents to organize kids before they run, help count laps, and cheer on our students, teachers, and supporters as they run. We typically need 5-6 volunteers per classroom.
If you are available to help as a lap counter or in any other capacity, please sign up in MyVP. If you sign up to count laps, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your student’s scheduled run time (don’t forget parking can be difficult at Ridgewood during events). Note only volunteers who have been pre-approved in the district wide MyVP system are eligible to count laps. A volunteer check in table will be in the undercover area, stop here when you arrive to receive your instructions and supplies.
4. WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR AND BRING THE DAY OF JOGATHON?
Dress your little runner for the weather…. we run rain or shine! Make sure they are in comfortable shoes for running. Send them with a warm outer layer and rain jacket if the weather looks like it could be wet. Please send your student with a water bottle labeled with their name. Don’t forget SCHOOL SPIRIT! Ridgie wants to see all the little Roadrunners sporting their Ridgewood spirit gear!!!
5. CORPORATE MATCHES? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?
Tons of companies have programs to match employee donations. If you work for one of these companies and are willing to take a couple minutes to understand the process, you can up to DOUBLE the amount of money Ridgewood receives! And matching funds are not limited to Ridgewood parents! If your sister-in-law or neighbor works for Nike, Intel, PGE, Kaiser, or one of the many other companies providing corporate matches, their donation could be doubled as well. Questions? Please email Fundraising@RidgewoodPTC.org.
6. CAN MY AUNT LIVING IN LOUISIANA DONATE WITH A CREDIT CARD?
Sure thing! Online donations can be made using PledgeStar, our secure online fundraising portal. To set up your child(ren)’s personalized fundraising page, visit www.pledgestar.com/Ridgewood. Hey, might as well ask if aunt Linda’s company would be willing to do a corporate match too!
7. IS MY DONATION TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
It is! Donations are made directly to the Ridgewood Elementary PTC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Tax ID #93-0741893.
8. MY KID WORKED HARD GOING DOOR TO DOOR COLLECTING PLEDGES. WHEN DOES SHE GET HER PRIZES?
Please be patient with the Jogathon committee as we work to calculate the fundraising and lap totals for individuals and classes. Prizes will be announced and distributed on November 6th.
9. I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
No problem. The Jogathon committee and Ridgewood PTC is always happy to answer any questions you may have about how the event. Please email us with any questions at Fundraising@RidgewoodPTC.org.
2019 JOGATHON COMMITTEE
PledgeStar Admin: Kristin Knutson
Sponsorship: Hilary Gherish & Jill Nguyen
Social Media: Kari Court
Assemblies & Prizes: Melisa Linnman
Community: Lucy Fisette
Graphics & Printing: Ashley Chuinard
Events & Prizes: Michelle Hebden
Data Manager: Tawnya Peterson & Whitlock
Volunteer Recruitment: Orissa Crispin
Supply Chain: Kari Raglione-Tissot
Logistics and Planning: Amy Ottaway & Kelly Ruhl
Historian: Angie Parker