Submitted by Monica Gelinas, Monteagle, Tennessee
Idea posted June 3, 2005
This year I went to the choir director at our local university and asked him if he would allow me to approach his choristers to sponsor my choral program. He agreed and invited me to speak to his group at the end of a rehearsal.
Before I went to that rehearsal, I had my small number of chorus students fill out a profile about themselves and why they like singing. I shared with the university students background about my school, its profile (Title I), and my students' writings. I asked them to make any contribution they would like to my program.
Between that visit and some subsequent contributions, I raised enough money to buy 30 copies each of five folio pieces. I had my elementary chorus students write thank you letters to the director and the university students. It was a fast, easy way to raise some money. This could work for other teachers in a college/university setting.