Parents build 'Miracle Fund'

The Evergreen PTO is trying a new take on giving.

Rather than asking parents to volunteer, the parent-teacher organization is asking families to open their pocketbooks.

Theresa Pitts, new president of the PTO, puts it this way in a letter to parents and friends of the Evergreen district: “Instead of asking you to donate your time and add one more thing to your already busy schedules, I am asking everyone, on behalf of the PTO, to donate just a dollar, or 20 dollars, or whatever you can afford to do.”

If the organization received one dollar for every child enrolled in the district, the PTO would collect $720, Pitts says in the letter. She calls the fundraiser Evergreen’s “Miracle Fund.”

“Can you imagine how much more we could collect, if we unite as parents in this one cause, and increase that one-dollar amount by just a little bit? Or if the students themselves became involved in the fundraising somehow? The earning potential is staggering!” she says.

Every dollar the PTO receives goes directly back to the school district, Pitts says. The PTO sponsors several programs, including the summer fitness program led by the Evergreen Fitness Team and bringing the Missoula Children’s Theatre to the schools.

The organization also helps pay for classroom supplies, Pitts says.

As she outlines in the letter, Pitts knows about sacrifice and hard times.

Within the last year, her family has experienced “a terrifying house fire,” three moves, two job losses, two broken-down vehicles with two expensive repairs, several trips to the emergency room, a chipped tooth, a car accident and the loss of a loved one.

The experience, she says, has helped her family prioritize — and Pitts thinks giving to the school is an important priority.

“My family is on a very tight budget, which I know most of you can relate to. And unfortunately, we can’t wiggle our noses and make dollar bills magically appear,” she says. “But I am going to sacrifice that extra soda or whatever I need in order to give my portion to help out this great school.”

The letters will be sent out within a few days and will include an envelope in which to enclose donations. The PTO will award prizes to the most generous donors and to the classes at East Evergreen Elementary and Evergreen Junior High that generate the largest amount to the fund.

Donations may also be sent to Evergreen PTO, 18 W. Reserve Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.

For additional information, contact Pitts at evergreenpto@gmail.com or leave a message at 249-9853.