The Canterbury Music Parent Support Group has enrolled in FundScrip. This fundraising program gives you money back on all your purchases at some of the best-known retailers in Canada. To date there are over 182 retailers to choose from. 75% of the money you earn goes directly into your child's account, which is held at the school and 25% goes towards supporting your music program. It's a win-win situation!
How Does It Work?
1. You open a FundScrip account online,
2. You order gift cards from individual retailers (over 152) in various denominations, which you may then redeem in these retailers stores,
3. You pay for your cards online by Electronic Funds Transfer, Payee, Interac or Credit Card.
4. Orders up to $500 can be placed any time online and cards are shipped free to your home by Canada Post. If you want to purchase more than $500 worth, simply place a 2nd order.
5. You use the cards as you would cash or give them away as gifts!
All cards have a descending balance and may be used until the entire value has been redeemed. There is no expiry date!
6. Watch your child's account grow! Support your music program!
For a complete list of retailers, visit http://www.fundscrip.com/Retailers/retailer_list.aspx
2. You order gift cards from individual retailers (over 152) in various denominations, which you may then redeem in these retailers stores,
3. You pay for your cards online by Electronic Funds Transfer, Payee, Interac or Credit Card.
4. Orders up to $500 can be placed any time online and cards are shipped free to your home by Canada Post. If you want to purchase more than $500 worth, simply place a 2nd order.
5. You use the cards as you would cash or give them away as gifts!
All cards have a descending balance and may be used until the entire value has been redeemed. There is no expiry date!
6. Watch your child's account grow! Support your music program!
For a complete list of retailers, visit http://www.fundscrip.com/Retailers/retailer_list.aspx
How to Register
1. Go to the FundScrip landing page and click on "Support a Group" here (the button is green and appears on the top right of the landing page).
2. Canterbury's invitation code ZN6EF6.
3. Follow the instructions to complete the registration process.
2. Canterbury's invitation code ZN6EF6.
3. Follow the instructions to complete the registration process.
How to Order
Go to www.fundscrip.com/login.aspx & click on 'Login Now'
1. Enter your password
2. Click on "Buy Cards"
3. Select "Direct Shipping"
4. Select "Payment Method" (Electronic Funds Transfer gives you the maximum donation)
5. Place your order and click "Checkout"
It's that easy! You can order anytime, 24hrs a day online.
For more information please contact Iva Apostolova.
1. Enter your password
2. Click on "Buy Cards"
3. Select "Direct Shipping"
4. Select "Payment Method" (Electronic Funds Transfer gives you the maximum donation)
5. Place your order and click "Checkout"
It's that easy! You can order anytime, 24hrs a day online.
For more information please contact Iva Apostolova.
Testimonials
Fundscrip is a "win/win" program. I loved that I could support the music program without donating my time (which I had very little of...), while also accumulating savings toward big-ticket items like school trips and graduation. My strategy with Fundscrip was to focus on stores that I shop at regularly, especially Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Esso. Although they sometimes offered a lower percentage donation than some other retailers, especially when some of the other retailers were on promotion, the total I earned still added up quite quickly. I also kept a regular supply of entertainment cards (restaurants, pizza takeout, cinemas) to insert into special event and thank you cards. By the time of my daughter's graduation, I had accumulated hundreds of dollars for the music program plus a substantial amount more for us. Fundscrip really is a "win/win" program!
Leslie Gardiner
---------------
I had no idea what Fundscrip was for the year my oldest was in grade 9. Sometime during grade 10 I figured it out and signed up. My only regret was that I didn't do it a lot sooner!
I am often adverse to fundraisers because I like consumables and would prefer not to buy things I don't want or need. Fundscrip is everything I like about fundraising; it is a win-win for everyone. I don't spend any extra money, I always use the cards I buy, because I buy groceries, gas, Starbucks, Home Depot and go to movies anyway AND money accumulates both in my daughters private fund and some goes to the music department as well.
When my oldest graduated last year we had money to buy several tickets for the grad recital in that fund. The rest has rolled over into my youngest daughter's account and will be used towards a school trip for her or something else in the next year or two. You can ask your friends to set up accounts too so that their grocery money contributes to your child's account and Canterbury music as well. It is as easy as setting up an account, ordering your cards every 2 weeks (I set up an automatic order) and getting your student to pick them up at the school office. What are you waiting for? No hidden costs!
J'lene Bradley
-------------
I first heard about Fundscrip when my older son was in grade 9. It sounded like a great program but given that everything was done online, and being the neophyte that I am when it comes to technology, I did not sign up. The following year when my second son entered the program my husband, the IT guy, signed us up and placed our first order. Since I am the one that does all the shopping in the house, I did not place another order. Another year went by. I finally realized that this is ridiculous! Living in Carp, and having 2 teenage boys in the house, the amount of money we spend in gas and groceries alone could earn us all a substantial amount of money. We are going to spend it anyways, why not earn some back and support our Music Program at the same time. Sounded like a win-win situation to me! I took the plunge and it really only took me less than ½ hour to figure out how to place an order. Now it only takes me a few minutes.
With over 155 retailers to choose from, I buy almost everything with Fundscrip cards, including paying my contractor with Home Depot cards for a large renovation we did a couple of years ago. I now order regularly, alternating between my 2 children's accounts. I purchase cards from retailers that I know I will eventually shop at when they are on promotion to get the highest rebate that I can. I give gas cards and subway cards to my kids so they are never stuck. I give cards away as gifts and as donations. I have never had an issue with payment or delivery. The only challenge that I had at the beginning was remembering that I had the cards in my wallet. As with anything, once I became used to looking in my card wallet to see if I had "a card for that", it became habit.
By buying everything with Fundscrip cards, I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly my earnings added up. Within 2 years of purchasing cards regularly I earned enough money to pay for my son's final payment for his school trip to Cuba, the entire payment for his trip to Toronto for Nationals, our grad recital tickets, and still had money left over in his account upon graduation that I rolled over into my other son's account. In November of this year I had over $900 sitting in that account. I used some of it this year for his clarinet lessons and currently still have over $700.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! It is a win-win situation! I only wish I would have started right from the start.
Deana Kosabek-Anderson
--------------------------
When I first heard about Fundscript I thought it was another computer program that would be beyond my somewhat basic skill base and being a police officer and busy mom, I felt it would be another time consuming fundraising scheme. I was so wrong! Once I took a few minutes to understand the concept of doing my everyday shopping through buying cards in advance from the school, I started realizing what a fabulous program this was for our Music Program. Initially I bought gas cards and grocery cards. Then I began to realize the benefit of having gift cards on hand for birthdays and special occasions where I didn't have to run out for something desperate but in fact give a quality gift card that never expires. Now with teenage girls I buy all my Christmas presents this way as well and they are thrilled to know that money goes back into their accounts and some into the general account as well. I have used my rebate for music clothing, trips and tickets for music night. It takes me 5 minutes to shop on-line for my cards and have never had an issue with the site or payment. My girls pick the cards and I no longer spend endless hours in the malls. This program is great for busy working moms and CHS Music profits at the same time. It's a WIN WIN!
Diana Hampson-WilsonSo you haven't yet signed up for Fundscrip? I was hesitant at first, too and it did take a little convincing to sign up. Was I really going to get the full amount of the gift card? Was the school really going to benefit? Is the payment method really secure? The answer to all that is YES! Now, I order regularly and it's a great way to fundraise for the great Music Program at Canterbury without much effort. And with every purchase I make, a percentage also goes into my son's account at school. We can use this money for school trips, or even music lessons. To extend the reach, I even print out the list of retailers and post it at work. My colleagues order their gift cards through me: they get their cards, Canterbury receives a portion of the proceeds and I receive the benefit of the earnings to the student account!
Fundscrip is easy to use, and because I purchase through an electronic funds transfer, I get the full benefit of the earnings for the program. You'd be surprised how many everyday things can be purchased through Fundscrip. I regularly buy gift cards - even during the summer - to pay for my weekly grocery and gas purchases. There are gift cards for the major movie theatres, which come in handy for admission and popcorn on movie nights (and it's safer than giving the younger kids cash when they want to see a movie). With retailers like Home Depot and Canadian Tire, we also pay for home renovations (like all the supplies for our deck last summer) through Fundscrip gift cards. We buy these items anyway, why not make it work for us and the school? Think of the percentage of earnings you can receive by doing this.
Finally , as the holiday season approaches, as with previous years, I'm planning on purchasing gifts for family and friends by using Fundscrip. With the selection of stores available, I can easily check off most of my holiday gift list. Also, in the spirit of holiday giving, many charities would love to receive gift cards and I've donated a number of grocery Fundscrip cards to food banks and shelters in the past. This gives the charities the opportunity to purchase needed items that they have not received through other donations. It's a win-win for all.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for Fundscrip and take advantage of the benefits and the earnings!
Liz Hong-Farrell
-----------------
Leslie Gardiner
---------------
I had no idea what Fundscrip was for the year my oldest was in grade 9. Sometime during grade 10 I figured it out and signed up. My only regret was that I didn't do it a lot sooner!
I am often adverse to fundraisers because I like consumables and would prefer not to buy things I don't want or need. Fundscrip is everything I like about fundraising; it is a win-win for everyone. I don't spend any extra money, I always use the cards I buy, because I buy groceries, gas, Starbucks, Home Depot and go to movies anyway AND money accumulates both in my daughters private fund and some goes to the music department as well.
When my oldest graduated last year we had money to buy several tickets for the grad recital in that fund. The rest has rolled over into my youngest daughter's account and will be used towards a school trip for her or something else in the next year or two. You can ask your friends to set up accounts too so that their grocery money contributes to your child's account and Canterbury music as well. It is as easy as setting up an account, ordering your cards every 2 weeks (I set up an automatic order) and getting your student to pick them up at the school office. What are you waiting for? No hidden costs!
J'lene Bradley
-------------
I first heard about Fundscrip when my older son was in grade 9. It sounded like a great program but given that everything was done online, and being the neophyte that I am when it comes to technology, I did not sign up. The following year when my second son entered the program my husband, the IT guy, signed us up and placed our first order. Since I am the one that does all the shopping in the house, I did not place another order. Another year went by. I finally realized that this is ridiculous! Living in Carp, and having 2 teenage boys in the house, the amount of money we spend in gas and groceries alone could earn us all a substantial amount of money. We are going to spend it anyways, why not earn some back and support our Music Program at the same time. Sounded like a win-win situation to me! I took the plunge and it really only took me less than ½ hour to figure out how to place an order. Now it only takes me a few minutes.
With over 155 retailers to choose from, I buy almost everything with Fundscrip cards, including paying my contractor with Home Depot cards for a large renovation we did a couple of years ago. I now order regularly, alternating between my 2 children's accounts. I purchase cards from retailers that I know I will eventually shop at when they are on promotion to get the highest rebate that I can. I give gas cards and subway cards to my kids so they are never stuck. I give cards away as gifts and as donations. I have never had an issue with payment or delivery. The only challenge that I had at the beginning was remembering that I had the cards in my wallet. As with anything, once I became used to looking in my card wallet to see if I had "a card for that", it became habit.
By buying everything with Fundscrip cards, I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly my earnings added up. Within 2 years of purchasing cards regularly I earned enough money to pay for my son's final payment for his school trip to Cuba, the entire payment for his trip to Toronto for Nationals, our grad recital tickets, and still had money left over in his account upon graduation that I rolled over into my other son's account. In November of this year I had over $900 sitting in that account. I used some of it this year for his clarinet lessons and currently still have over $700.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! It is a win-win situation! I only wish I would have started right from the start.
Deana Kosabek-Anderson
--------------------------
When I first heard about Fundscript I thought it was another computer program that would be beyond my somewhat basic skill base and being a police officer and busy mom, I felt it would be another time consuming fundraising scheme. I was so wrong! Once I took a few minutes to understand the concept of doing my everyday shopping through buying cards in advance from the school, I started realizing what a fabulous program this was for our Music Program. Initially I bought gas cards and grocery cards. Then I began to realize the benefit of having gift cards on hand for birthdays and special occasions where I didn't have to run out for something desperate but in fact give a quality gift card that never expires. Now with teenage girls I buy all my Christmas presents this way as well and they are thrilled to know that money goes back into their accounts and some into the general account as well. I have used my rebate for music clothing, trips and tickets for music night. It takes me 5 minutes to shop on-line for my cards and have never had an issue with the site or payment. My girls pick the cards and I no longer spend endless hours in the malls. This program is great for busy working moms and CHS Music profits at the same time. It's a WIN WIN!
Diana Hampson-WilsonSo you haven't yet signed up for Fundscrip? I was hesitant at first, too and it did take a little convincing to sign up. Was I really going to get the full amount of the gift card? Was the school really going to benefit? Is the payment method really secure? The answer to all that is YES! Now, I order regularly and it's a great way to fundraise for the great Music Program at Canterbury without much effort. And with every purchase I make, a percentage also goes into my son's account at school. We can use this money for school trips, or even music lessons. To extend the reach, I even print out the list of retailers and post it at work. My colleagues order their gift cards through me: they get their cards, Canterbury receives a portion of the proceeds and I receive the benefit of the earnings to the student account!
Fundscrip is easy to use, and because I purchase through an electronic funds transfer, I get the full benefit of the earnings for the program. You'd be surprised how many everyday things can be purchased through Fundscrip. I regularly buy gift cards - even during the summer - to pay for my weekly grocery and gas purchases. There are gift cards for the major movie theatres, which come in handy for admission and popcorn on movie nights (and it's safer than giving the younger kids cash when they want to see a movie). With retailers like Home Depot and Canadian Tire, we also pay for home renovations (like all the supplies for our deck last summer) through Fundscrip gift cards. We buy these items anyway, why not make it work for us and the school? Think of the percentage of earnings you can receive by doing this.
Finally , as the holiday season approaches, as with previous years, I'm planning on purchasing gifts for family and friends by using Fundscrip. With the selection of stores available, I can easily check off most of my holiday gift list. Also, in the spirit of holiday giving, many charities would love to receive gift cards and I've donated a number of grocery Fundscrip cards to food banks and shelters in the past. This gives the charities the opportunity to purchase needed items that they have not received through other donations. It's a win-win for all.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for Fundscrip and take advantage of the benefits and the earnings!
Liz Hong-Farrell
-----------------