Lagway Elementary’s annual Color Run brought students, families, and staff together for another energetic day of school spirit, ultimately raising more than $23,000 and surpassing the school’s original goal of $20,000.
Funds raised through the event will go toward new playground or learning equipment, with students themselves helping decide what the school will purchase through a campus-wide voting process.
A New Approach to Fundraising
This year marked Lagway Elementary’s first time using PledgeStar after previously hosting two Color Runs with another fundraising company. According to PTO coordinator Rachel, one of the organization’s biggest priorities this year was finding a platform that allowed the school to keep more of what they raised.
“One of our bigger goals as a PTO was to save costs going toward the vendor,” Rachel explained. “That was honestly one of the biggest draws for us.”
Lagway Elementary is still a relatively new school, having only been open for five years, and this was just the third Color Run in school history.
User Friendly for Families and PTO Leaders
As the PTO researched different fundraising platforms, Rachel said many companies felt overly sales-focused or lacked tools specifically designed for schools. PledgeStar stood out because of its straightforward setup, reporting features, and school-centered design.
“It felt built for fundraising,” Rachel shared. “The interface felt user friendly both on the PTO side and on the family and donor side.”
The reporting tools also made a significant difference for organizers, especially when tracking incentives and prizes for students.
“Being able to see the reporting and know what prizes we had to award was really helpful,” she said. “Other fundraising companies we looked at didn’t have things like that built in.”
Rachel also noted that the responsiveness of the PledgeStar support team helped make the transition smooth.
“We didn’t have any major issues, technical or otherwise, but when we did have questions, PledgeStarwas really quick to respond,” she said. “Usually within the hour or just a couple hours, and that was really appreciated.”
Investing in Future Campus Improvements
Although Lagway Elementary had already hosted a successful fundraiser earlier in the school year, the PTO still wanted the Color Run to support projects that students would directly benefit from and feel excited about.
This year’s funds will go toward new playground or learning equipment, with students helping guide the decision-making process through a school-wide vote organized by the principal.
“The teachers identified playground equipment or some type of learning equipment as something they’d really like to add,” Rachel shared.
Rachel also explained that while the PTO wanted to be mindful of families financially, the fundraiser still provided an important opportunity to build school spirit and continue investing in the student experience.
“Extra money is always nice to have in reserve too,” she added.
By involving students in choosing future additions to campus, the fundraiser became more than just a way to raise money. It also gave students a voice in helping shape their school environment.
Looking Ahead
Following a successful first year with PledgeStar, Lagway Elementary plans to continue using the platform in future fundraisers.
“We definitely plan on utilizing your platform in the future,” Rachel said.
For a growing school focused on balancing community engagement with thoughtful fundraising goals, this year’s Color Run proved to be both a financial success and a positive experience for families, staff, and students alike.
