A fundraiser all parents would get behind

Dee Heinz shared this fundraiser form on Facebook

Here's a fundraiser all parents of school-age children will get behind - the alternative fundraiser.

A PTA committee for a school in the US sent home an "Alternative Fundraiser" notification, where, in lieu of sending students home with the task of selling door-to-door, collecting money and delivering goods, parents could just donate cash instead.

Mum-of-three Dee Heinz was more than pleased with the idea telling CNN "We were cheering," she said. "We thought it was hilarious and a breath of fresh air."

The options included: a $15 donation because "I do not want to bake so here is the money I would have spent on those cupcakes." Or, a $50 donation to avoid having to "walk, swim or run in any activity that has the word 'thon' in it. Here is the money I would have spent on my child's 'free' T-shirt."

Delighted, Heinz posted a picture of the notice on her Facebook page last week with the caption "I love that our school PTA has a great sense of humor."

Comments left on Heinz's Facebook post echoed the sentiment.

"LOVE this. Yes, to all of the above," as one person said.

"Every PTA should do this!" said another.

A handful of people stood by the fundraiser, saying it teaches children responsibility. Maybe so, Heinz said, but there are other ways for children to learn responsibility.

"They learn responsibility from making sure their homework is completed, or through extracurriculars like playing sports and being part of team," she said. "They're not lacking in opportunities to learn responsibility and there's only so many hours in a day that you can commit to activities."

Heinz said she is not advocating for all schools to get rid of the fundraiser. She understands that some schools might prefer traditional fundraisers. She simply appreciates that her school PTA is giving her family the option to choose how to spend their time and money.

"Fundraisers serve a purpose and I'd never want to diminish that. But for us this is the better option. Time is valuable, too."

- nzherald.co.nz