Foothill is set to feel a budget crunch, and whether or not some school activities may continue is a question we are all asking ourselves. We don’t want to give up dances and events, but the school may soon lack the money to fund them. That’s where fundraising comes in.

Being the unique school that Foothill is, a wide variety of fundraisers occur throughout the school year. Some examples of such fundraisers are the Mr. Foothill male beauty pageant, and the food fair. However, due to the lack of funds, more fundraising is necessary.

But with some fundraisers, it seems that everyone tends to hate them. Every time the school pressures me to go out of my way to sell a coupon book, I want to punch a wall. Every time I am asked to dine at some restaurant that I don’t really care about, I get pretty ticked as well.

So, what kind of fundraisers can be held which are enjoyable, and will draw a large audience?

There are many types of fundraisers that clubs, classes, or service projects can organize that will draw a large crowd – and as a result, raise funds. Here are some interesting ideas which could be used in the future:

Open Mic Night

As many Foothill students have noticed, charismatic students are in abundance. There are comedians, musicians, poets, etc. and many would like an opportunity to showcase their talents and see the talents of their peers. When Epic held weekly open mic nights, many Foothill students attended. However, Epic discontinued this event back in January. With this, an Open Mic Night fundraiser held at Foothill could be very successful. It would not require anything except a teacher/adult chaperone. Even a small admission fee could make quite a profit. 

Makeshift Car Races

I didn’t know what else to call this. I got this idea from Ventura High school’s cardboard boat races. This would be a cool fundraiser for Foothill, except that Foothill lacks a pool. Therefore, a makeshift car race is a good alternative. Since Foothill students are very creative, this could be a successful event in the future. Entry fees for participants could be charged, which would create revenue for the school.

Student-Directed Plays

I can see this being incredibly awesome. If you were to ask any Foothill student what they wished Foothill had, many would respond with either sports or theatrical productions. Student-directed plays are a great alternative to a larger production, since the plays would be original, no royalty fees would have to be paid.

Formal Attire Exchange

One of the biggest difficulties faced when preparing for a dance is finding appropriate formal attire. Often, the perfect dress or suit is expensive and difficult to find. In addition to this, the formal attire, are usually worn once before becoming a closet decoration. A formal attire exchange could very much benefit students in need of something to wear to formal dances. Dresses, shoes, suits, and other formal attire could be collected, and a “rental fee” could be charged to those who want to take something to wear to the dance. After the dance, the formal attire could be returned, and would go back to the owner.

Food Festival

Not to be confused with the “Food Fair” this one would be easy and fun. Basically, each student wanting to attend would bring a dish of food, a dollar (which would go to the school), and can then eat whatever else is brought by other students. This is a great social gathering, and students get to eat. To make things more entertaining, a movie could be played in the area.

With the harsh budget cuts, fundraising is going to be critical for all schools in the area and to make the most of it, fundraising should be made enjoyable, rather than something forced upon students and their families.