A Guide to

Pennies

Orientation

Pennies Orientation

Agenda 1) Our Mission 2) Steps for Success 3) Dates and Goals 4) Materials 5) Coordinator Guide 6) Online Fundraising 7) Coin Management 8) Prizes and Recognition 9) Fun Ideas to Reach Your Goal

You are participating in a community service program that

directly helps kids with cancer and their families!

Last year, nearly 30,000 schools and 15 million students contributed to making sure cures happen TODAY!

Funds are making a difference! – Since 1954, LLS has invested almost $1 billion in blood cancer research.

Our mission is to cure blood cancers and help improve the lives of patients and their families. We do this through:

Cancer Research – In the last 10 years, half of the drugs approved by the FDA for cancer, were for blood cancer. Many of these drugs have gone on to help in other indications! Bottom line: blood is easier to study because it’s more accessible.

Family Support and Education – There are an estimated 1,012,533 people living with blood cancers in the US. We help them with financial assistance, education and support groups.

Pennies Orientation

Our Mission

1) Form a committee • Fellow educators • Student groups (HOSA, STUCO, etc) • Parent organizations

2) Set a goal 3) Make a coin counting plan

• Coinstar • Bank • Coin counting committee

4) Start thinking of incentives 5) Distribute materials, set up your online

donation page, and get your school excited! 6) Have a kick-off assembly 7) Collect the money and get it made into a

check or money order 8) Send in your donation online or through the

mail with your Wrap Up Report 9) Celebrate!

Steps for Success

Pennies Orientation

Dates & Goals

Most schools run the program for 1-3 weeks or they incorporate it into a pre-established week like Homecoming, Spirit Week, or sporting events like Miracle Minute. When will your school participate? Campaign Dates: ________________________

Find out your minimum donation total to receive an incentive. Set a goal for your school so you can track your success! Our School’s Goal: $_____________________

Pennies Orientation

School Thermometer Chart: Hang in a prominent place and

write in your school’s goal. Color in the thermometer frequently so

students can track their progress.

Classroom Thermometer Chart: Each classroom will receive a chart to

help track their progress towards a bronze, silver or gold pennant.

Classroom Collection Boxes: Each classroom will receive easy to put together cardboard collection

boxes. Have teachers display these in the classroom. Students can

decorate and tailor them to stand out.

Materials

Pennies Orientation

Campaign Posters: Hang these in high-traffic areas prior

to the start of the program to get students familiar with the campaign and excited to participate.

Materials

Stickers: You can sell these or use them as rewards for donating a certain amount.

Student Collection Boxes: Boxes are given to elementary students to take

home and collect change or keep in their locker to collect change from lunch.

Honored Hero Poster: This poster features our current

Honored Heroes. Hang the poster in your school to put a face to your coin collection and help your students understand how their donations help others.

Paper Pennies: Sell these for $1-$5 and make

a penny wall, ask your local businesses to sell them

during your campaign or create a Wall of Hope display.

Student Series DVD: Includes three promotional and education videos.

Why, Charlie Brown, Why DVD: (K-5, 30 minutes). Also available in Spanish!

Available Upon Request:

Pennies Orientation

Coordinator Guide

Pennies Orientation

You will receive a folder in the mail separate from your materials. This is your coordinator guide! It details the program

thoroughly and will help you run a successful campaign. Some highlights include:

•Daily school announcements (one informative announcement for everyday you run the campaign)

•Fundraising ideas •Service Learning Lesson Plans (ideas to help teachers integrate

the program into educational classroom work) •Checklists

•FAQs •Supply List

•Coin management •Prizes and recognition

•Wrap up report (this is what you will fill out and send in with you donation at the end of the campaign)

Online Donating

Pennies Orientation

Online donating is the easiest way to keep track of your school’s progress and to spread awareness to your community that you are helping end blood

cancers! You will receive a link to your page that is easy to set up by classroom, teacher, student, or grade level.

Here are some tips to successfully launch your online donation page: •Have teachers set up their own page

•Share the school’s link via Facebook, Twitter, newsletters or the school’s website

•Have incentives in place for those who utilize the page •Be aware of any incentives your chapter offers for online donations •Customize your page with pictures and updates about the events

happening throughout the campaign •Ask us if you need help! We can set up the page for you!

Coin Management

Step 1: Form a Coin Counting Committee Consider asking teachers, other school staff, student leaders or parent volunteers.

Step 2: Identify a Coin Counting Plan Select the method that works best for your school. •Local Bank: Call your local bank to see if they will partner with your school in this community service project by counting all your change for free. Arrange to bring your change to the bank several times throughout your campaign. •Coinstar: Coinstar machines found in your local supermarket offer a reasonable alternative to counting coins. Be sure to note that Coinstar charges a 9% fee.

Step 3: Deposit Coins at Least Once a Week Coins weigh a lot, so be prepared yet flexible with your committee.

Step 4: Keep a Tally of Classroom Totals Ask teachers in each class to have their coins counted daily instead of once a week.

Coin Counting Tips: •If you don’t want to deal with coin counting, try using the paper pennies. Students can donate $1 or $5 for a paper penny to tape up in the school hallway. •Do any parents work for a bank or banking service? Can they donate the use of a coin counter? •Ask students to collect money at home and have parents write a check (payable to LLS) for the total. •Digital donations! Have your students donate to their classroom’s online donation page. No change to count and the money goes directly to LLS!

Pennies Orientation

Pennies Orientation

Prizes and Recognition

Celebration Party: If your school reaches your donation minimum for your chapter, LLS will provide a celebration party for the class that brought in the most donations! This party may be pizza or pasta depending on your school’s location.

Pennants: Gold, Silver, and Bronze felt pennants will be distributed to classes that raise at least $100. Mark how many you will need on your wrap up report.

Gift Cards: Your chapter may offer gift cards if your school raises more than the minimum needed for a celebration party.

Banners: If your school raises $4,000 you will receive a “Champions of Change” banner to display!

Name an LLS-funded Research: Schools that raise $25,000 will be eligible to link their school name with an LLS-funded research project!

Ideas to Reach Your Goal

• Stuck for a Buck • Coin per Day: Monday – Pennies, Tuesday – Nickles… • Staff Does Something Crazy When you meet __ Goal:

• Shave Head/Dye Hair • Dress Silly • Dress in Costume • Kiss a Pig • If a teacher’s a specific team’s fan, wear opposite jersey

• Hat or PJ Day – pay $1 to get this privilege • Paper Penny Wall •Teachers pay $10 to wear jeans for the week •Extra recess time •Extra gym time •Pay to listen to your iPod at lunch or use you phone in homeroom

Pennies Orientation

Pennies Orientation

Questions?

Pennies Orientation