The goal of the Norcross High School Band program is to provide students an excellent musical education. The Gwinnett County Public School System provides only a small portion of the funding necessary to run a successful program. Therefore, the Band Booster organization, band member families, and the community work together to raise the funds needed to ensure that our band continues to thrive. The participation of each band member and family, both personally and financially, is vital for the ongoing success of our whole band program. Outlined below are fundraising opportunities for either contributing to the Band as a whole, or to reduce a student's individual financial obligation. Click here for a summary of costs for Band participation.
Individual Fundraising to Reduce Band Obligation
Parent volunteers are needed to staff the Band concession stand (Visitor side of field) at home varsity football games and earn $25 toward their student's Band Obligation account by working one of two shifts. Shift times are: 5 pm-end of game and 6 pm to close of stand (including cleanup; usually past end of game). Volunteers do not pay to get in to the game. Sign up at Band Booster meetings or by contacting a coordinator. Remaining concession stand profits go to the General Fund.
3 Guys Entertainment is a company that plans and runs corporate picnics and parties, providing food and activities for the guests. Norcross Band students and parents provide the labor by setting up equipment, running the carnival games, serving food (possibly minimal preparation), and taking down the equipment at the end of the event. The work is not hard. Workers earn @ $6.50/hr. (varies by event) and the payment is deposited directly into the student’s Band account. Workers must be at least a freshman in the Band, a parent of a Band student, or a sibling of a Band student and at least 15 years of age. Workers provide their own transportation to the event (there may be carpool opportunities). Upcoming work opportunities are communicated by email and slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's important to check email often and respond quickly to announcements.
Spend money that you already spend, in places you already shop, and raise money for your Band Student at the same time!
It’s not selling, it’s buying
Here is how it can work for you…
You purchase Retail Gift Cards and then use them instead of your cash or credit cards. Everyday expenses for food, clothing, and other routine expenses can be purchased with the retail gift cards available through this fundraiser. With every purchase, you earn revenue for your band student. Band Boosters offer a time to order cards almost every week. Your cards would be available the following week.
Real $$ Money $$ straight into your Band Account … How?
Our vendor, The Great Lakes Scrip Center, purchases large amounts of gift cards from restaurants (fast food to fine dining), department stores, drug stores, grocery stores, service providers (haircuts, auto service), and many other retailers. The GIFT CARDS are purchased with cash up front, SO the participating retailers offer a discount to non-profit groups, from 2% to 15%, or more. This is more than you will get from a credit card “Reward” programs.
For example, when you buy a $50 Walgreen’s gift card, you receive a $50 Walgreen’s gift card and +++ your student’s band account is credited 6% or $3.00 +++ +++
Spend money that you already spend, in places you already shop, and raise money for your Band Student at the same time! It is that easy.
It is that easy, just plan one week in advance. Since there is a week turn around time to order the cards, you just need to plan a week in advance. If you know you spend $100.00 at Wal-Mart each week or $50.00 at the Shell station, always buy your coffee at Dunkin’ Doughnuts, routine prescriptions at CVS/Walgreens/Rite-Aid, (EVERYTHING, get the picture?) then you can regularly buy those gift cards. It is that easy
Put your shopping dollars to work for your own fundraising.
Visit the vendor website for a complete list of retailers. Click on the alphabetical list. It is a lot to look through, because there are so many choices. Your favourites will be there! For a quick view of the most popular among our Band Booster gift card users, see the list below.
Norcross Band Boosters’ GIFT CARD Most popular list
This is just a sampling …
Kroger & Ingles Grocery Store, 5% to your account
Publix 3%
CVS / Walgreens Drug stores, 6% to your account
Wal-Mart / Sam’s Club / Target /, 2% to your account
Belk’s stores 7% to your account and many others Kohl’s / Sears / Penny’s / Home Goods / Ross / T J Max’s / Kmart / Land’s End / LL Bean / Talbots / % varies
Home Depot / Lowes, 4% to your account
Macy’s, 10% to your account
Subway / Dunkin’ Doughnuts / Arby’s / Wendy’s / Starbucks / and soooo many other fast food places / % varies
Olive Garden / Longhorns / Stoney River / Calif Pizza / Macaroni Grill / Chilli’s / so many others / % varies
Shell / Chevron / 2% to your account
Office Max / Office Depot / Staples, 5% to your account
GAP / Old Navy / Aeropostale / Express / J Crew / % varies
Amazon. Com 4% / Overstock.com 8%
A plant sale in the Spring provides another opportunity to raise funds by pre-selling a variety of beautiful high-quality annuals and ferns to friends and neighbors. Plants are delivered to the school for pickup. A portion of your student's sales go to his/her Band Obligation account. Communications and order forms typically come out in mid-March.
Entertainment Book sales occur in the Fall. Each book sells for $25, with half of the sale amount credited to your student's Band Obligation account. Entertainment Books are great gifts and are easy to sell. There may be additional perks for selling minimum quantities and book holders receive restaurant discounts by registering the membership card found in the book and showing that card when visiting a participating restaurant.
Happy Days Car Wash on Spalding Dr. offers a significant discount to us. Booster members purchase coupons at retail price from the Booster organization: $25 for vans/SUVs' and $22 for cars. A portion of each coupon sale ($12 or $10, respectfully) is credited to your student's Band Obligation account. Coupons may be purchased at Booster meetings or by contacting the coordinator. This could be a great promotion to neighbors, etc.!
This is a late Fall fundraiser and great Holiday gift idea! Calendars cost $5 with $2 credited to your student's Band Obligation account. They include Chick-Fil-A freebies and are good at any Chick-Fil-A anywhere!!
General Fundraising for the Band
GENERAL FUNDRAISING contributes critical monies to continue and enhance existing Band programs by providing funds to purchase/replace equipment, music, supplemental instruction, and Marching and Concert Band uniforms and attire.
A limited number of blue and silver Norcross H.S. Band License Plates are available for $5 each in the Band Room before the game this Friday and at the next Booster meeting. Contact Dianna Peet
In conjunction with this school-wide event held in the Fall at which local restaurants showcase their food specialties and Booster clubs sell tickets for a variety of food samplings, Booster families will have an opportunity to sell tickets through the Band Boosters and raise money for their student's Band Obligation account. Additionally, we encourage all Band Booster families to donate and/or solicit donation(s) to the Taste of Norcross Silent Auction (a separate part of the overall event) specifically to benefit the Band Booster General Fund.
The Band Boosters offer a designated "night out" at a different restaurant (approx. once each month and typically on a Monday night) at which the restaurant donates a percent of the total of each meal "ticket" to the Band Boosters for the General Fund. You (and friends/family that you invite) must state that you/they are with the NHS Band Boosters on the designated day/time in order for the Band to receive this benefit. It's a fun way to share the evening for a good cause!
You incur no cost to participate in this program, so if you do not already have a card with a participating grocer or are not “linked”, please make plans to do so and help support the Band! Each store contributes a portion of our combined purchases to the General Fund.
Ingles Advantage – Link your current Ingle’s card to NHS Band Boosters by emailing the coordinator with your 12 digit card number to set up the link!
Publix Shopping Cards – already “linked” to our Band Booster account are available at Booster meetings or by contacting the coordinator.
Spiritwear Items
There are many available items that parents and students may purchase to support the Band. These include polo shirts, marching show shirts, sweatshirts, stadium seats, throws, bags, hats, shorts, visors, magnets, and license plates. Items available may change from year to year.
Rock-a-Thon
Students solicit pledges from friends, family and neighbors then rock the night away (all night with Band Parent chaperones) to raise money for our General Fund. This is an optional event, but maximum participation by students putting forth just a little bit of effort is key to the success of this endeavor! The night of the event itself is a lot of fun for those who participate and we continue to be amazed at the tremendous financial support from friends, family and the community.
With a successful and fun Spaghetti Dinner history, we plan to repeat this Winter/early Spring event held at the school. Students and Band Booster families sell tickets to friends, neighbors and family. Many Band parent and student volunteers come together to plan and execute this event from start to finish to prepare and serve a delicious spaghetti dinner. We even provide entertainment!
Boosters: if there are any changes to the above information, or you have a new fundraiser to report, please email the Webmaster.
