Reading for Change

Harriet Bishop PTO Read-A-Thon

March 10 – 28, 2025

We are excited to kick-off the Harriet Bishop PTO Read-A-Thon!

The Read-A-Thon is our biggest and only school-wide fundraising event that directly involves every Harriet Bishop student. By participating in the Read-A-Thon, students will have the opportunity to earn fun rewards for themselves and the school!

Every student that submits their complete Reading Bingo will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win some cool Harriet Bishop gear! Drawings will happen each week during the Read-A-Thon.

We also encourage every family to consider their ability to help with the fundraiser. Our 2025 goal is $12,500, and every dollar raised will go towards earning additional school-wide prizes!

Our total school goal for 2025 is $12,500

Please visit our FUNDFUB ONLINE Fundraising Website where you will find information on:

How much we have raised relative to our goal
How to register your student/s to start collecting online donations
Event Dates and Updates
School-wide Donation Rewards and Incentives
Our general sponsors

Visit FundHub

Ways To Donate

Online

Create an online fundraising page for each of your students as follows:

Register your Child by visiting www.getmovinfundhub.com/register. School Identifier: 5dc3224dd1879
Email and/or Text your child’s student fundraising webpage to friends and family
Post on Facebook or Twitter You’ll be surprised when donations come in from distant relatives/friends from High School/co-workers. Post and see what happens!

** NOTE: The PTO receives 100% of cash/check donations where online donations are subject to administrative fees.

Cash/Check

Use the PLEDGE FORM provided at school to keep track of cash/check donations collected by your student(s). Enclose all cash/checks in an envelope/ziplock bag and return to your teacher by March 28, 2025.

Click here to download a printable pledge form.

Employer Matching Gifts

Find out if your employer is one of the thousands of corporations that match donations that you make and complete their application form

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Read-A-Thon and how does it work?

A Read-A-Thon is an event during which students read in order to raise money. For the Harriet Bishop Read-A-Thon, students, with the help of their parents/caregivers, collect money between March 10-28 to support the Read-A-Thon. The Read-A-Thon, which is 100 minutes of reading will take place at school on March 28th, followed by a celebratory Pep Fest on April 11th!

Why are we having a Read-A-Thon?

The PTO is a nonprofit that funds programs that directly support each student. Over the past few years, 60% of the PTO’s gross revenue received has been through the Read-A-Thon. The PTO has distributed it’s funds raised through the Read-A-Thon (and other fundraisers) over the following areas:

37% on SCHOOL (Playground improvements (swing set, gaga ball, game table, climbing wall), Yearbooks, Directories, PBIS, Safety Patrols, Spiritwear t-shirt for each student, Unity Mural)
25% on CLASSROOM (Classroom supplies / equipment based on teacher requests, Online Learning subscriptions, Phy Ed / music equipment, Artist in Residence)
20% on SCHOOL EVENTS (Hornet Hop, Smart Fair, Read-a-Thon, PTO speakers, Back-to-school night)
13% on FIELD TRIPS (Kindness Retreat, Base Camp, Creativity Festival, Transportation to Ebenezer or musical events, in-house Science Museum)
2.5% on COMMUNITY (International night, Service Day, Brainpower in a Backpack)
2.5% on ADMIN (PTO expenses such as copy fees, website fees and bank fees)

What are the Key Read-A-Thon Dates?

March 10-28 – Event Dates
March 14 and 21 – Return Pledge Forms and money (cash and checks). We count weekly and share fundraising progress with students/families.
March 28 – LAST DAY to return Pledge Forms and money (cash and checks)
March 28 – READ-A-THON Day
March 31 – LAST DAY for ONLINE donations at FundHub
April 11 – PEP FEST

Parents/Caregivers, why participate?

Why would your student/s and family participate in the Read-A-Thon?

Help build your student’s confidence by supporting them in their ask of friends, family and neighbors for pledges (read more about this in the student’s section).
To support the funding of programs that this Read-A-Thon provides to your student/s.
We consider Harriet Bishop to be a family, and so we work together to help each other. Together we know we can achieve great things!
Support our school by choosing Harriet Bishop PTO for your regular charitable contributions.

School Wide Prizes!

$2,500

Digital “Read Aloud” with Mr. Essay

$5,000

Mr. Essay Serves Lunch

$7,500

Mr. Essay on Rollerskates at Pep Fest

$10,000

Duct Tape *a HB Staff Member* at Pep Fest

$12,500

Teachers/Staff play “Minute to Win It” at Pep Fest

$15,000

STRETCH GOAL – Kona Ice Truck (Kona Ice for all students!)

*The communities that raise the most funds will get to vote on the HB staff member to be duct taped at Pep Fest!

Mr. Loesch (Phy. Ed.)

Mr. Ermisch (Art)

Mr. Essay

Communities will be paired up as follows:

Red Oak and Maple
River birch and Norway Pine
Linden and Willow

Hey Students, this part is for YOU!

As part of the Read-A-Thon Fundraiser, we have fun prizes planned that you (with the help of your parents/caregivers) can help all the students at Harriet Bishop enjoy! This is your opportunity to share with friends, family and neighbors how much you love Harriet Bishop and ask them to support your education by supporting the Read-A-Thon fundraiser. Let them know that no amount is too little as every bit helps towards providing you awesome opportunities at Harriet Bishop. If you need a little help on what to say, here is an example script you can use/adapt.

EXAMPLE FUNDRAISING SCRIPT

STUDENT:

Hello, my name is _________ , and I am raising money for Harriet Bishop Elementary School’s annual fundraising Read-A-Thon.

PARENT/CAREGIVER or STUDENT: The Read-A-Thon is an all school event, held on April 5th, where all students will be reading for 100 minutes and participating in other fun reading activities.

STUDENT: All the money raised goes towards student activities………

PARENT/CAREGIVER or STUDENT: ……….that enhance student learning and the development of the Harriet Bishop community like Reading Apps, Service Projects, Junior Achievement, Kindness retreats, Playground Equipment and Patrol, to name a few.

STUDENT: Would you be willing to support my school with a donation of any amount? No amount is too little as every bit helps towards providing students awesome opportunities at Harriet Bishop.