Jackson school foundation tries travel tour as fundraiser

The Jackson R-2 Foundation is trying something a little different as a fundraiser -- a trip to New England.

Those who sign up for the trip, offered through 1st Class Travel, will have a portion of the cost donated to the foundation, which awards classroom teacher grants and other extras not covered by the budget.

Islands of New England trip is scheduled for Oct. 3 through 10. Some of the trip highlights include visits to Providence and Newport, R.I., Boston; a cranberry bog; Plymouth Rock; Plimoth Plantation; Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Hyannis and Provincetown, Mass. Travelers also will have a chance to do some whale watching, visit sand dunes and have a lobster dinner, according to an email sent by the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce about an informational meeting on the trip.

Merideth Pobst, director of foundation/communications for the Jackson School District, said this is the first time the foundation is offering a travel tour fundraiser. The travel firm approached the foundation about the idea, which was presented to the foundation board.

School foundations often host golf tournaments, dinners, tailgating events or fun runs to raise money.

"Sometimes you have to think outside the box," Pobst said. "You can only have so many golf tournaments."

Pricing for the New England islands tour, with a discount of $100 if it is booked by the end of the year, is $2,599 per person based on two people in a room; $2,569 based on three people in a room; and $2,999 for single-room occupancy, 1st Class Travel consultant Susan Berghoff said.

The tour rate includes round-trip airfare from St. Louis, all hotels and transfers, taxes and 11 meals; it is fully escorted. Trip cancellation insurance, which includes "cancel for any reason" coverage, is an additional $175 per person and must be taken at the time of deposit, the information says.

Collette Vacations puts together the escorted tours, and Berghoff said the guides will be local, so they know the area "very well."

Pobst said 1st Class Travel runs the whole trip.

Pobst said the more people who go, the more it benefits the foundation.

"Every person who signs up we gain $100," Pobst said.

"It is an interesting way to raise money and we've seen it more and more with hospitals, and chambers [of commerce] and schools," Berghoff said. "It just seems to be the thing to do."

The foundation awarded 33 grants last year, giving away a total of $14,000. Grants range usually from $100 to $500 each, Pobst said.

Pobst hopes the trip will provide a larger pool of funds for the foundation, which in addition to classroom teacher grants also provides technology needs, scholarships and support for students to attend Boys State, Girls State or a music competition.

"We hope that would be the case, and that would be wonderful," she said. "Once we see what the revenue is, then we'll decide as a board how to use that revenue to support needs in the district; maybe a scholarship, or a specific project like technology. ..."

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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