School fundraisers reel in community support
April 14, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti There was no emergency on a recent Friday morning when a Waterbury firetruck pulled up to Brookside Primary School, lights flashing and sirens sounding.
Kindergartner Charli McKenzie gets ready for her ride to school in a Waterbury Fire Department firetruck. Photo by Gordon Miller
For one lucky kindergartner though, this was a special day.
Charli McKenzie, a student in Mary Geibel's class, won the chance to ride to school in a Waterbury Fire Department firetruck as a prize in the recent Brookside Primary and Crossett Brook Middle schools Calendar Raffle.
Now in its third year, the joint fundraising effort has enjoyed much success in rallying community support both for collecting donated prizes and in ticket sales. A similar effort is also about to launch in Fayston in May (see below).
This year’s Brookside-Crossett Brook raffle raised $20,106, according to parent organizers. “This is the primary fundraiser for the PTO and is split between the two organizations to be used for teacher grants, field trips, teacher appreciation, the ski program, and more,” said Waterbury parent volunteer David Rye. “The PTO sends a huge thank you to the generous buyers of tickets and the generous businesses that donated prizes.”
The fundraiser sold tickets that entered buyers for chances to win prizes drawn daily during several weeks through February and early March. Rye said local businesses contributed a total of 94 prizes and community members purchased 2,497 tickets.
Firefighter Michael Frank does a demo with some hand-held tech. Photo by Gordon Miller
Students enter by helping with ticket sales and a drawing is held for special student prizes, including a snowboard, a Vermont State Parks pass, a pizza party for one class at each school and of course, the firetruck escort to school.
Firefighter Michael Frank does the honors. Last Friday’s treat for Charli started with a tour at the Main Street fire station, not far from her home downtown. In previous years, student winners in Waterbury Center visited the Maple Street station.
Mom Erin and little sister Isla were invited to ride along, arriving at school with Charli. Teacher Mary Geibel and classmates gathered on the sidewalk to greet them, check out the truck, and then start their day.
A list of all of the raffle prize winners is posted on the Crossett Brook PTO website.
Every Day in May for FAYston
Fayston Elementary School. File photo
The Fayston Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization will hold its third annual Every Day in May for FAYston fundraiser raffle and tickets are available now.
Each $10 ticket offers a chance to win a prize valued between $50 and $100 with one drawing per day in May.
Prizes include gift certificates to local businesses such as Bicycle Express, The Alchemist, Northern Lights Family Chiropractic, Snowfire, Ben & Jerry’s, Sugarbush Quad Packs, Sparetime, and even Target gift cards.
A purchase of five tickets gains an entry into the grand prize drawings consisting of a $100 Mehuron’s Supermarket gift certificate, a $100 Village Grocery gift card, an auto detail from Snowfire and a one-hour massage from Mad River Massage or a 2025-2026 Mad River Glen season pass.
All proceeds will benefit the Fayston School PTO which funds a school winter sports program, artists in residence, classroom projects and teacher grants, Red Clover and Golden Dome books, teacher and staff appreciation week, field day, school grounds beautification, and more.
“This annual fundraiser is integral to ensure the PTO has the funding it needs to provide our students with healthy, educational, and fun programming, and they work extremely hard to ensure our community has opportunities to participate in social functions throughout the year,” said school Principal Justina Boyden.
Get tickets online here. Email ptofayston@gmail.com for more information.