Happy New Year and Auction News!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I can't believe that 2008 is coming to a close. Hello 2009! I hope that everyone will have a safe and prosperous 2009!

Below are some important dates coming up:

HFS' 21st REACH Auction: Saturday, May 2, 2009

Auction meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 9th at 7 PM in the Tice Hall. All room parents are strongly encouraged to attend. Many volunteers are needed; please come and find out how you can help! Should you have any questions, please contact Sandy & Fred Cavazos at 206-248-2728 or fcavazos@comcast.net

Randy Terlicker Memorial Service - Monday, January 5, 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009, the school is planning a Memorial Service honoring Randy Terlicker and the other firefighters who died in the 1995 Pang Warehouse fire. We are inviting the families and friends of the firefighters who died. We are also inviting local firefighters as well. This Memorial Service is not only a poignant tribute but also an important fundraiser for the school.

We are requesting help setting up, and tearing down of the event. Unfortunately no one has volunteered yet. If you can help out please let Frank know as soon as possible. His e-mail address is principal@hfseattle.org

All time spent on this event will count double toward your parent commitment hours for the school.

We need people to help set up from 2 PM until 4 PM, as well as people to help tear down from 8:30 PM until 10:30 PM. You can volunteer for either or both tasks.

Mexican Fiesta - Auction News

Our next Auction meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 9, 2009 at 7 PM in the Tice Hall.

Procurement letters and forms have been mailed out to 969 businesses. We hope to receive 1/4 of contributions from these businesses. But, we still need you and your contributions; without you, our Auction would not be successful!

Chairs are needed for the following committees:

• Bar
• Boards
• Clean Up
• Dessert
• Transportation

Volunteers are needed for the following:

• Desserts
• Boards
• Clean Up
• Bar
• Servers
• Bank
• Runners
• Set Up

Over Christmas break, pick up your Auction item at a discount! Your $150 obligation is the fair market value of whatever you purchase. If you find it for $100 and it is worth $150, you still receive the full value towards your obligation.

Deadline to turn in your filled procurement form is February 20, 2009. Checks will only be accepted after this date.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fred & Sandy Cavazos

Auction Chairs

(206) 248-2728

fcavazos@comcast.net

KB Toys Closing All Stores‏

Yesterday, KB Toys announced they have filed for bankruptcy and are closing all of their stores. Consequently, we are no longer offering their gift cards.

The KB Toys Gift Cards are not returnable, so in light of this news, if you have purchased their gift cards to give as gifts or have received their gift card as gifts, your Scrip Committee urges you to use their gift cards as soon as possible.

eSCRIP Contest Deadline Coming Up

The eSCRIP Contest is coming to an end. For each person you sign up for eScrip from Nov. 11 through Dec. 15, 2008, your name will be put in a drawing. If you sign up 10 people, your name will be entered into the drawing 10 times, it’s that simple! You can sign up new supporters by doing one of the following:

Log on to http://www.escrip.com/ between Nov. 11 through Dec.15, 2008.
Enter the School Group I.D. - 8563286
Register the person’s Safeway Club Card
Turn in to me the list of people you have signed up for eScrip no later than December 18, 2008.
Please include your name, telephone number and email address (if available)

OR

Provide me with a list of new supporters no later than December 15, 2008, and I will sign them up for you. Please include the following information for the people on your list:
First and Last Name
Address, City, State and Zip Code
Safeway Club Card Number
YOUR Name, Phone Number and email address (if available)

The drawing will be held at the January 2009 Parent Club meeting. The winner will receive a $25 Scrip Card from their choice of Safeway, QFC, or Albertsons!

Safeway's Gift Card Mall

Do you need a Gift Card RIGHT NOW that your SCRIP Committee doesn't have on hand? Remember, you can buy Safeway SCRIP Card and use it towards a purchase of the Gift Card you need at Safeway's Gift Card Mall and still earn 3% towards your fundraising commitment (excluding Auction). Below is a list of some of the Gift Cards Safeway offers that we do not offer or may not be readily available:

Target
Keg Steakhouse
Home Depot
Nordstrom
American Airlines
Southwest Airlines,
Travelocity
Ebay
Overstock.com

For a detailed list, please visit http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Gift-Cards. Please note, in-store assortment may vary. You can call your local Safeway to verify what they have on stock.

KOMO Article on Gift Cards

Here is an interesting article regarding gift cards from KOMO TV

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/35345504.html

Faculty and Staff Wishlist

I have received SCRIP Wishlist from some of the Faculty and Staff members. Please contact me if you would like to receive this list for a particular teacher.

November 25, 2008 Update

SCRIP

General News

Happy Thanksgiving!

To date, your SCRIP Committee have sold $39,000 in SCRIP Cards! The two biggest selling months were October and November. SCRIP sales for those two months were $12,000 and $16,000, respectively. After deducting shipping cost, the profit earned to date is approximately $1,300! Thank you to everyone who have been supporting our SCRIP Program!

Patience is a Virtue

Although we strive to fill your SCRIP orders as it comes in, there are times when we simply do not have enough items in stock to do so. Thank you to everyone who have been supportive and understanding when this situation occurs.

Holiday Planning

SCRIP Cards are excellent gifts to give to family and friends for special occassions and holidays. Some gift ideas include:

• A Harry & David ($25) luscious fruit basket
• You can even get the traditional ham or smoked turkey for your friends at Honey Baked Ham ($10)
• If you’re stumped on what to buy, give a gift certificate to Amazon.com ($25/$100)
• Brookstone ($25) offers distinctive gifts for everyone on your list.
• You can’t go wrong with a Starbucks ($10/$25) gift card, or
• A good book is at their finger tips with a card from Barnes and Noble ($10/$25).
• How about the gift of travel? Send them on a trip with a Best Western ($25/$100) or Disney ($25/$100/$1000) gift card.
• How about giving someone a relaxing night at home…Blockbuster Night Cards ($12) can be redeemed for 2 movie rentals, popcorn, and beverages.
• Anyone will appreciate the gift of music from iTunes ($15/$25)
• Outdoor adventures REI ($25) offers clothing and gear for the slopes, trails and waterways.
• Anyone will appreciate the help keeping the tank filled, so fill their stocking with a gas card.
• Give someone something sparkly from Kay Jewelers ($50)
• Tis the season to be jolly, so head to Toys-R-Us ($20) or KB Toys ($20) for games and gifts.
• Video gamers will enjoy a GameStop ($25) gift card.
• The handy person around the home would love some Craftsman tools from Sears ($25/$100/$250). Or get him started on a project with a Lowes ($25/$100/$500) or Home Depot ($25/$100/$500) gift card.
• Treat the family to a new flat screen TV from Best Buy ($25/$100/$250).

The possibilities are endless! Encouorage your friends and family to place their Gift Card purchases through our SCRIP program to help you earn $$ towards your fundraising committment (excluding Auction). Keep in mind you will need to turn in your SCRIP orders by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9th.

eSCRIP

There is still plenty of time for you to turn in the names of the people you have signed up for eSCRIP. For each person you sign up, your name will be put in the January 2009 Raffle Drawing!

Important Information About Retail Stores Closing

Some of you may be concerned about the alarming stories on the internet and in the press recently about gift cards and retailers going out of business.

Our SCRIP Vendor, Great Lakes SCRIP have some thoughts on this subject. Great Lakes and your SCRIP committee are keeping very close tabs on retail partners that may be in financial trouble. If Great Lakes feel that there is a significant risk of them closing, or not accepting their gift cards, they will stop selling their cards. When we receive word from Great Lakes regarding a retail partner that may be in financial trouble, we remove them from our order form. When and if we have important information about retailers, we will do the best we can to quickly and clearly share that information with you.

We hope this helps with any uncertainty you may have. As always, the SCRIP Committee and the Parents Club appreciate your business, and wish you a happy and profitable holiday season.

SCRIP Reminder

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our SCRIP Program. Just a quick reminder to please put your order form, along with your payment (check only please) in a SEALED ENVELOPE labeled SCRIP. This procedure helps ensures that I receive your order and payment in a timely manner.

Help Support our SCRIP Program and earn Double PowerPump Rewards at Safeway!

If your SCRIP Committee does not have available the Gift Card you need, you can buy Safeway SCRIP and use it towards a purchase of over 300 Gift Cards available at Safeway.

Now thru December 25, 2008, you can earn Double PowerPump Rewards at Safeway for every $100 you spend on Gift Cards. Subject to all PowerPump restrictions and exclusions. For more information please visit www.safeway.com/powerpump or call 1-877-SAFEWAY.

Not only are you helping us reach our fund raising goals, but are also earning double the PowerPump Rewards!

November 17, 2008 Updates

Holiday Orders

There are a few things to keep in mind for your Holiday Orders:

1. The lead time for SCRIP Orders has increased for the Holidays. I have noticed that it has been taken longer for SCRIP Vendors to process our orders, thus causing a slight delay in receiving it. Please be patient and remember to order early!
2. The last day to order SCRIP for your Holiday Gift Giving is Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 by 8:30 a.m. This will help ensure that your order will arrive in time for disbursement through the FCE on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
3. You can still place orders after Dec. 9, 2008, however, any orders placed after Dec. 9 may not arrive in time.

Wish List

Last week, the SCRIP Committee sent out the SCRIP Order Form to the Faculty and Staff asking that they pick their top five SCRIP Retailers. This "Wish List" will be made available to the Room Parents and the Parent Club so that we (the Parents) have an idea of what to give as gifts (for the Holidays or any special occasion) to the Teachers and Staff to show our appreciation for all their hard work. This is a win-win situaion for everyone. Not only do the Teachers and Staff receive the gift they want, but the Parent Club can also earn credit towards our fundraising goals!

Weekly SCRIP Newsletters

In an effort to be more "GREEN", your SCRIP Committee has started a Blog to communicate SCRIP and eSCRIP news to our School and Parish Community. The website address us www.hfscrip.blogspot.com. This website will be kept updated with all the latest SCRIP and eSCRIP news! I recognize that not everyone has access to a computer, therefore, I am open to suggestions on how to share these SCRIP and eSCRIP news with our community aside from the weekly Newsletters.

McDonalds Now Available!

Just in time for the Holidays, McDonalds Scrip is now available at $15 denomations. HFP receives a 2% profit. Place your order now!

Holiday Planning

***HOLIDAY PLANNING***

This year there are fewer shopping and SCRIP ordering days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than usual. Your SCRIP Committee would like to advise you to start your SCRIP Holiday purchases early.

The last day to order SCRIP for your Holiday Gift Giving is Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 by 8:30 a.m. This will help ensure that your order will arrive in time for disbursement through the FCE on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

You can still place orders after Dec. 9, 2008, however, any orders placed after Dec. 9 may not arrive in time.

November 11, 2008 eSCRIP News

eSCRIP NEWS

Thank you to those of you who have signed up for eScrip! Remember to spread the word and encourage your friends and family to sign up for eScrip. Please note, eScrip contributions are not applied towards your $465 fundraising commitment.

READY...SET...GO GET MORE eSCRIP SUPPORTERS!

As indicated last week, we are having a raffle to see which family can get the most people to sign up for eScrip. For each person you sign up for eScrip from Nov. 11 through Dec. 15, 2008, your name will be put in a drawing. If you sign up 10 people, your name will be entered into the drawing 10 times, it’s that simple!

You can sign up new supporters by doing one of the following:

• Log on to http://www.escrip.com/ between Nov. 11 through Dec.15, 2008.
• Enter the School Group I.D. - 8563286
• Register the person’s Safeway Club Card
• Turn in to me the list of people you have signed up for eScrip no later than December 18, 2008.
• Please include your name, telephone number and email address (if available)

OR

• Provide me with a list of new supporters no later than December 15, 2008, and I will sign them up for you. Please include the following information for the people on your list:

1. First and Last Name
2. Address Phone Number
3. Safeway Club Card Number
4. YOUR Name, Phone Number and email address (if available)

The drawing will be held at the January 2009 Parent Club meeting. The winner will receive a $25 Scrip Card from their choice of Safeway, QFC, or Albertsons!

November 11, 2008 SCRIP News

SCRIP NEWS

HOLIDAY PLANNING

This year there are fewer shopping and SCRIP ordering days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than usual. Your SCRIP Committee would like to advise you to start your SCRIP Holiday purchases early.

WANTED USED SCRIP CARDS

I am creating a display case for SCRIP Cards for sale. If you have any used SCRIP cards please put in an envelope and drop off at the school office. I will use them for the display case

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT

*NEW* American Express Pre-Paid Cards

Great Lakes Scrip Center is pleased to announce that American Express ® Prepaid Gift Cards are now available in $100 and $200 denominations with a 1.25% non-profit benefit.

The American Express Gift Card is redeemable anywhere American Express is accepted which includes these fine retailers: Target, Costco, Nordstrom and many others. Important Facts You Need To Know About American Express Gift Cards:

It is not a credit, charge or debit card.

The Gift Card cannot be used at cruise lines, for car rental, for recurring billing purchases, or at casinos or ATMs.

Use your Gift Card soon! While you may leave Available Funds on the Gift Card, starting 12 months after the date your Gift Card was purchased by Great Lakes Scrip Center, and subject to applicable law, a monthly service fee of $2.00 will be deducted from your Available Funds.

Because of the monthly service fee that will be charged starting 12 months after the date of purchase these cards will be “special order” only.

*New* DELL

Just in time for the holidays...Great Lakes Scrip Center is pleased to announce that Dell® gift cards are now available in a $100 denomination with a 4% non-profit benefit. The gift card can be redeemed for the purchase of merchandise or services on dell.com, 1-800-727-6000, or at a Dell Direct Store. When making online purchases, only 3 Dell gift cards can be used for an order. Gift cards can be consolidated into a single card by calling 1-800-624-9897.

QFC/Fred Meyer

I understand that some people have tried using the QFC/Fred Meyer SCRIP Cards towards a purchase of another gift card but were told they could not. I spoke with QFC Corporate and was advised that you can use QFC/Fred Meyer SCRIP Cards towards your purchase of other gift cards at QFC Stores only. You will not be able to purchase gift cards at Fred Meyer using your QFC/Fred Meyer SCRIP. Please let me know if you run into any problems with QFC locations and I will let QFC Corporate know.

Domino’s Pizza

Domino's has temporarily run out of their $5 certificates. They are hoping to have them available again in about 3 weeks

What is SCRIP and eSCRIP

What Is Scrip?

Scrip is a term that means “substitute money”. When you purchase scrip, you’re purchasing negotiable gift certificates and prepaid cards that are used just like cash. Scrip is a popular fundraiser because families don’t have to sell anything. Organization members produce revenue by making regular household purchases they would make anyway. You can use scrip to purchase everyday expenses like food, clothing, gas, and other essentials, and with every purchase, you earn revenue for Holy Family School.

How scrip generates revenue for HFS

Holy Family School purchases Scrip from The Great Lakes Scrip Center. Because the scrip is purchased with cash up front, the participating retailers offers Holy Family School a substantial discount. Holy Family then re-sells the certificates to families like yours for full face value. The discount ‑ from two to fifteen percent or more – is Holy Family School’s revenue. For example, Safeway offers a 4% discount for Scrip purcahsed. If you purchase $100 in Safeway Scrip, we receive a 4% discount or $4.00. That $4.00 is revenue for HFS.

Let's Get Started

1. On your order form, please indicate how you would like to receive your prepaid SCRIP Order. Please note, if you choose to receive your order through the FCE, Holy Family Parish, Holy Family School or the Parents’ Club is not responsible for lost/stolen SCRIP Orders transported between school and home.
2. The first page of your order form will be SCRIP cards that typically will be available in one week or less. The second page of your order form will be SCRIP cards that typically will be available in two weeks or less
3. Turn into the school office your order form and payment (Check Only Please) in a SEALED envelope labeled SCRIP.
4. Once your order is filled, we will contact you via email or telephone to advising you to expect your order through the FCE or by your choice of delivery. If you choose to pick up your order, pick up times are: Tuesdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
5. If you are looking for a vendor not on the order form, please ask to see the latest participating retailer list. Then put your shopping dollars to work for our organization!

What Is eScrip?

eScrip is an important part of our fundraising program. We ask that every family help us “make the grade” in our fundraising goal. Participating business partners contribute a percentage of your grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to Holy Family School.
Our school needs your support!

How do we “Make the Grade”?

We need all of our families to get straight A’s in their enthusiasm to raise funds. This task will not require hours of homework but just a few minutes of your time and your Safeway Grocery Club Card number.

Let's Get Started!

• Log onto http://www.escrip.com/.
• Enter the School Group I.D. - 8563286
• Register your Safeway Club Card. Each time you make a purchase at Safeway and use your Club Card, Safeway will make a contribution to Holy Family School.
• You can also register your debit and credit cards.
• Participating eScrip merchants (Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and many more) will make a contribution to Holy Family School based on purchases made by you, just by using the debit or credit cards you have registered.
• That’s it! It’s that easy----your family shops-our school earns dollars.
• Please note, eScrip contributions are not applied towards your $465 fundraising commitment.

Welcome!

This Blog was created to communicate SCRIP news and other School fundraising activities to our Parish and School Community!