HISD Gets a Bright Idea for New School Fundraising Tool
Thanks to a new program developed by HISD in partnership with select Texas electricity providers, school fundraising efforts will soon be experiencing a “power surge.” Just sign up with one of the participating providers and a portion of your monthly electric bill could go to the school of your choice.
Parents of Jonathan Wainwright Elementary School students came to their campus on October 1, 2009, to learn more about the program and sign up. Representatives from participating electric companies were on hand to assist—as well as to determine the best time to change service providers in order to avoid early termination fees from current ones.
“This is just the sort of fundraising tool we’ve been seeking. It’s just not as safe as it used to be for students to go door to door selling candy,” explained Principal John Barrera. “This way, we keep our children safe, we don’t have to stock or sell a product, and there’s no cost to us or to our supporters. We just get parents, grandparents, alumni, and school supporters to sign up for something they are already using—and they could even save money on their electric bills in the process.”
Several electricity providers have agreed to offer school supporters market or lower electricity rates and make a monthly contribution to schools for each supporter who signs up through the program and designates a school.
At Wainwright, there are approximately 700 students. If every household signed up for the program, the school could earn about $28,000 a year, paid in monthly installments.
There is no cost to schools or their supporters to participate in the program. To join, visit the Power For Schools Web site.
School supporters can use the site to find information about the program, locate their school’s ID Code, and compare rates, terms, and conditions of the electric providers. After a school supporter decides on a provider, he or she can enroll through the site using the school’s ID code to direct a monthly contribution from the electric provider to the school. Supporters may also enroll by telephone or get help in registering at their school, but they must provide the school’s ID Code to ensure the school receives a contribution.
Power For Schools is an alternative to traditional fundraising programs, that usually rely on parents and other school supporters to buy products they do not want, do not need, and often cannot afford. Instead, Power For Schools offers school supporters something they need and use every day: electricity. Teachers and school staff members no longer need to spend time distributing products, collecting money, or tracking sales.
Everyone benefits from these arrangements—the schools receive a monthly income, year-round; supporters have an opportunity to save on their electric bills; and participating electric providers can support education and enlarge their customer base. HISD has designed the program so that it can be expanded statewide to include interested schools and school districts from all over Texas.
The electricity providers involved in the program so far are: Affordable Power, Ambit Energy, and Champion Energy Services. Others are expected to join as the program expands.
For more information about this partnership, contact HISD’s Marketing and Business Development department at 713-556-6675 or 800-319-0704.
