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Funny PTO Opt-Out Fundraiser Letter

This High School PTO’s “Opt-Out” Fundraiser Is Going Viral Because, Well, It’s Genius

After shopping for supplies, taking first day of school photos, and sending them off with a delicious lunch, parents still have a long year ahead of them when it comes to their kids' schooling, namely, helping out with homework and dealing with the PTA/PTO's fundraisers.

Of course we'd like to do as much as possible for our kids' schools throughout the year because their educations are of the utmost importance, but more often than not, the idea of making the 100 cupcakes you volunteered to bake for a fundraiser ends up being the biggest regret you've had. There just aren't enough hours in the day to get our kids from A to B, make sure homework is finished, get dinner on the table, and then spend a couple of hours baking, crafting, or selling things for a school fundraiser.

One Alabama high school's PTO knows this true fact and chose to acknowledge busy parents rather than guilt them into offering their time and energy for the schools' various fundraisers. In a letter sent home to parents, it was explained that fundraisers would be run a little differently this year.

"Don't want to sell anything, bake anything, buy anything, or [would you rather] generally avoid fundraising of any kind? We feel the same way!" reads the top of the fundraiser letter. "This year, you can OPT OUT of a traditional fundraiser by making a donation that will 100% benefit Auburn High School and help us achieve our goal of helping students and teachers."

Parents were then given three "opt-out" options for the new school year:

  • I love this school and am happy to help, so here's $15.
  • I am so busy (or lazy) and wouldn't have responded to any phone calls, emails, sign up lists all year . . . please enjoy my $25 donation.
  • Here's $50 or more to forget my name and my face, and not ask for anything else all year!

The photo of the letter, which was posted by mom Briana Leggett Woods, has quickly gone viral. "Thank you to Auburn High School!!" Briana wrote. "Where has this been the past 11 years of school life with my kids?!?" Thousands of people have shared the post and over a thousand parents have commented on the photo, mostly to tag mom friends and pose the question, "Why doesn't my kid's school PTA do this?!"

We have the same question.

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