Direct Giving
Support Our School (SOS) http://polarisprogram.dpsk12.org/sos Families, relatives and community members give one-time donations via check or credit cards, or can enroll in monthly bank transfers. All contributions are tax-deductible and anonymous. Donations range from $5 to $5,000. If you're not sure how much to give, consider a donation of $171 -- one dollar for every student contact day.
Learn more about SOS, give online or download a donation form here: http://polarisprogram.dpsk12.org/sos.
Community Events
Jog-a-thon Last year over $7,600 was raised through our annual jog-a-thon held each October. This is an opportunity to stress good healthy habits to the children at the school and reach out to a broader network of Polaris supporters.
Bingo New this year, Polaris’ first family fun night of bingo, food and frolic is expected to be a tremendous hit. Join us for our inaugural event on November 13th at 5pm!
Gala A community celebration each May where the children showcase their muscial and artistic accomplishments. Last year food sales, a cake walk and class baskets raised over $4,200.
Directory Ads Last year almost $1,300 was raised by families and community members that advertises to over 300 families by placing an ad in the Polaris School Community Directory. Ad prices range from $10 for 30 words to $200 for a full-page ad. Deadline for artwork or materials is end of August for the current school year. Contact Christie Gosch at 303-523-3209 or cgoschdesign@gmail.com.
For the Love of the Arts This annual event held at the school provides parents, teachers, students and the community an opportunity to showcase their artist creations and share their love of the arts with the students. Last year proceeds from a bake sale held during the event netted almost $900.
SPREE Mile High Run This annual fun run held each May by the South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE) organization raised nearly $900 for our school. In addition, Polaris students benefit from the amazing programs SPREE offers every student at the school.
Community Dinners Last year over $800 was raised and community was built in a series of dinners that focused on fun, family and the extended Polaris community. These dinners are organized periodically throughout the school year with hosting restaurants providing a percentage of their sales on those nights back to the school. Sometimes these dinners are held at the school with all profits going back to Polaris. Contact Judy Bloom at Bloom.Judy@epamail.epa.gov.
No Cost Programs
Grocery Coupons Last year this program raised approximately $8,000 by buying grocery cards at 95% of their value and selling them to the Polaris community at full value. For every dollar spent at King Soopers, Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, and Sunflower Markets, 5% goes back to the school. Orders can be placed on a one time basis or on a reoccurring monthly basis. Forms for placing orders are available in the school office and will shortly be available on the Polaris at Ebert website. Cards will be available for pick-up on the 1st of each month in the school office and email reminders will be sent to participants. Payment is in check or cash only. Checks should be made payable to “Polaris PTO’ and submitted at the time of grocery card pick-up. Sorry, Whole Foods does not participate in this program. Contact Molly Kirschling at 303-308-0974 or paul-molly@att.net.
Yard Sale Last year over $2,300 was raised through an annual yard sale that occurs in the spring at a Polaris family’s home. Save your children’s clothes, toys and equipment as well as household items, tools, and whatever else you may donate to other organizations for the Polaris yard sale. Contact Zane Robertson and Laurie Hipley at jrobertson651@comcast.net and lhipley@comcast.net or 303-320-1171.
eBooks Last year over $1,600 was raised through eBook sales. For each $10 coupon book sold, $6 goes back to Polaris. Books practically sell themselves since they contain 4- $5 coupons to King Soopers in addition to free and discounted items through partners like Dairy Queen, Arby’s, Copper Mountain and Winter Park, Christy Sports, AMF, and Elitch Gardens. There are discounts for restaurants, oil changes, AAA Travel, movie tickets, coffee, bagels, mini-golf, laser tag, other Colorado ski resorts, gear rentals and more. In addition, the kids like to sell them because they earn great prizes such as free Dairy Queen Desserts, passes to Elitch’s, Copper Mountain and Winter Park, AMF Lanes, and Dominos Pizza. Contact is Nikole Bruns Carey 303-331-1091 or 303-808-6898 or nikolecbc@yahoo.com.
Box Tops for Education Program Last year this program raised over $300 by redeeming more than 3,000 Box Tops redemption logos. Each logo is worth 10 cents and can be found on Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Cascadian Farm, Chex, Cheerios, Cottonelle, Fiber One, Fruit Roll-Ups, General Mills, Hefty, Kleenex, Lucky Charms, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Scott, Total, Yoplait, and Ziploc products. A complete list can be found at www.BoxTopsEducation.com. It’s easy - save, clip, and drop them in the large Cheerios box in the office. Contact Mike Freehling at 303-355-7027 or mikefree@csd.net.
Target Program This little known program only raised about $200 last year but it has great potential with a little advertising. All you have to do is visit https://Target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 to designate our school (Ebert Elementary, Denver, CO School ID:37360) then use your REDcard whenever you shop. When you use your REDcardSM (Target® Visa® Credit Card, Target Credit CardSM or Target Check CardSM), Target will donate up to 1% of your purchases to our school for purchases you make at Target and Target.com and ½% of Target Visa Credit Card purchases you make everywhere. Don’t have a REDcard? It’s easy to apply. Get started in person at any Target store or go to Target.com/redcard. Grandparents, alumni, friends and neighbors are all welcome to participate in the program. The more people we involve, the harder the program works for our school. If you’re already participating, thank you! Check out our school’s progress anytime at Target.com/tcoe.
Office Depot – gives 5% back to our school for office supplies purchases when you present our school code 70017461at check-out.
GoodShop Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx Under “Who Do You Support” enter Polaris at Ebert Elementary School PTO (Denver, CO). Next, shop at the stores listed below to earn money for the school. Stores include Amazon, eBay, Home Depot, Expedia, Travelocity, Toys R Us, Walmart, Walgreens, Oriental Trader, LL Bean, Priceline, FTD, Gap, Office Depot, Sears, and many, many more.
GoodSearch GoodShop's sister site, www.GoodSearch.com will donate about a penny to our school every time someone searches the web and designates Polaris at Ebert Elementary School PTO (Denver, CO) as their designated cause. This is totally free as the money comes from advertisers.
Thanks to Our Donors!
Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to the Polaris Raffle & Bingo event. Our generous donors include:
YMCA of the Rockies - Enjoy a wonderful family getaway for 2 nights in a 3 bedroom unit at the YMCA of the Rockies' Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park. A refreshing family retreat to renew your spirit, mind and body! http://www.ymcarockies.org/
La Sandia Restaurant, $25.00 Gift Card http://www.modernmexican.com/lasandia/index.htm
Bocaza Mexican Grill on 17th Avenue, $20.00 Gift Card http://www.bocazamexicangrille.com/
Elitch Lanes, (2) Family Fun Packs (2 hr Bowling for 6) http://elitchbowling.com/
Encore Restaurant $25.00 Gift Card http://www.encoreoncolfax.com/
Marco’s Coal Fired Pizzeria, $25.00 Gift Card http://www.marcoscoalfiredpizza.com/
The Pilates Movement, (4) $25.00 Gift Certificates http://www.denverpilatesmovement.com/
Snooze, An AM Eatery, $25.00 Gift Certificate http://www.snoozeeatery.com/
Berenices Salon, $147 Gift Certificate & Aveda Travel Kit
Jen Pumo, healer & artist, 1 hour massage http://www.jenpumo.com/
Denver Art Gallery, $100 toward custom framing http://www.thedenverartgallery.com/
Wild Flowers, Room Freshener & Genius Deck
Rebelle Salon, (3) Haircuts http://www.rebellebytootsies.com/
Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar & Grill, (6) Gift Certificates for free Appetizers http://www.lingandlouies.com/
Roberts, Levin & Rosenberg , Tickets to the Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on December 14th http://www.robertslevin.com/
Eastern Plains Natural Food Co-Op, 2 Natural Turkeys http://www.easternplains.com/
Dave Wood Photography, Studio Portrait Sitting & One 8x10 Print http://www.davewoodphotography.com/
Park Hill Yoga, 4 yoga classes (adult or kids) http://parkhillyoga.com/
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, 4 tickets to Saturday, Jan. 9 concert with one of the world's finest violin soloists, Leila Josephowicz, and 4 tickets to the Haleakala family concert on March 21. http://www.coloradosymphony.org/
Toast fine food & coffee, (2) Gift Certificates for $25 Each http://toastygoodness.com/
Cherry Creek Shopping Mall, 6 Months free Valet Parking http://www.shopcherrycreek.com/index.html
Luca D’Italia, Dinner for 2 http://www.lucadenver.com/
Kerasotes Theaters Cherry Creek 8, 4 Movie Tickets
http://www.kerasotes.com/Home.aspx
J & J Snack Foods, Churros http://www.jjsnack.com/
Frito Lay, Chips http://www.fritolay.com/