SCRIP…what’s that?… and how could it possibly help us? Scrip actually means anything used in the place of money.  In this case we are talking about gift cards from local and national vendors.  How does this translate into a fundraising program for our school?

Here are a few things that it doesn’t mean! …No door to door selling!  No boxes of merchandise to ask our friends, family and neighbor to purchase.  No embarrassment when it arrives and we must deliver it back to the families who were generous enough to purchase something they didn’t want or need in the first place!!!

This is a program that allows each parent to weekly make a choice to direct their normal purchases for essentials…milk, eggs, gas, clothing to those stores that will partner with our school.  It is that simple.  No selling, no extra expense, just focused spending.  Spending that brings profit to our school.

How do I help?   Every year we face the same dilemma… meeting the needs that go beyond the budget the school can possibly provide.  Every year we face shortfalls, and the bottom line is that the needs of our children sometimes suffer. As parents we want to help, but we need directions.  We are striving to put into place a program that will give us a continual source of help.  By combining our spending dollars and working together, we can create a powerful source of revenue for our children, this school, and the programs that will make a difference for not only our children, but the children who will follow in their steps.  It is our responsibility to leave a legacy for them.  Let’s get started! How can you help?  Simply read the information about this program, follow the instructions on the back side of the information sheet and we can begin to make a difference!

 TOGETHER WE CAN TURN
TOMORROW’S DREAMS INTO TODAY’S REALITY.

How does the program work?   UnitedScrip purchases millions of dollars worth of gift cards (SCRIP) yearly from national vendors. Our school purchases these same cards from UnitedScrip at a discount.  We in turn offer this scrip to our parents at face value.  You receive dollar for dollar the valve of cash for these items.  Example: $50 of a gas debit card will purchase $50 of gas at any of its pumps, nationwide. It’s that simple!

Where do I get the Scrip Order Forms?  Order Forms are available on the school website under the PTT tab.  Take a look at this form and think about your week.  Where will you shop this week?  Where will you eat out?  What essentials will you need?  Does the car need gas? Who has a birthday party coming up?  Who needs shoes?  What groceries do you need? Fill out the form and return it with a check to cover the items to the school office or your child’s teacher by Monday.  The cards will be available in the office by Friday morning.

Weekly Scrip Schedule:

• All orders are due by 12:00 pm Monday and should be turned in to your child's homeroom teacher. A PTT representative will be collecting them from the teachers.
• Any orders received after this time will be filled the following week.
• Our complied school-wide order is sent to UnitedScrip on Monday afternoon.
• Parents elect to either (a) have cards sent home with their student OR (b) to pick up themselves. There will be a PTT volunteer in the school lobby in charge of releasing scrip cards to parents on Fridays from 7:30 am until 9:30 am and from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm.
• There will be a $20 fee for any check returned for insufficient funds.

Scrip FAQs

• What do I have to do?   The first step is to make sure your weekly spending pattern involves UnitedScrip vendors! (See the Vendor List.) Then, place your scrip order to include your grocery, gas, clothing, dining out, and travel needs in anticipation of your weekly spending habits.  If you maximize your use of certificates, your group will earn maximum profits!
• How does my group make money?  Your group places one large order with UnitedScrip each week. Your group pays UnitedScrip the discounted amount for the certifiates. You pay your group the face value for the certificates. Your group keeps the difference from the discounted amount and the face value amount as profit.
• When does my group see a profit? Your group makes profit from the very first order! There is no waiting. Your group will have extra money to spend the first week, and you earned this money for the grup, even though you have not spent one penny more than usual!
• How much can my group earn?  Theere is no limit on what you can earn! The amount of profit your group relized from this program depends on the number of families who are willing to focue their spending habits.
• How do I pay for my certificates?  Just send a check with you order form for the entire amount made out to the River Mill Academy PTT.
• How do I place my order?  Just send the order form back in your child' Scrip Envelope to the classroom. The PTT will be collecting them from your child's homeroom teacher.
• How do I pick up my certificates?  Certificates will be available for pick-up at River Mill Academy, or sent home with your student (as approved). We will have a parent volunteer in the school lobby in charge of releasing scrip cards to parents on Fridays from 7:30 am until 9:30 am and from 2:00 pm until 3:30 m.
• Are all certificates good at all locations?  UnitedScrip certificates are good nationally, at all locations.
• Do the stores give change?  Debit cards hold the balance until you use it again.
• Do certificates expire?  Certificates usually have a one to two-year expiration date, if any.
• What do I do whn the cashier says there is no balance on the card?  Always check the toll-free number on the back of all gift cards before returning them to us. Most gift cards offer a toll-free number or a site online that can give you the complete history of the card and solve the reason why the card may not be valid.
• What if I need a larger dollar value on a card?  This is a Special Order - Some of the gift certificates are available in larger denominations (Lowe's, Home Depot). Please give us a week's notice so that we may alert UnitedScrip.
• Do the cards have dormancy fees? Some cards will have an expiration date written on them. Companies are now applying a Dormancy Fee or on-use fee as opposed to an expiration date on their gift certificates. This fee will deduct a set dollar amount from the card balance each month (i.e. $1.50 or more) after a certain amount of months of non-use. This amount will be deducted each month until the balance is zero. When the card is once again used, the time period for dormancy will be restarted. In some cases, calling to check card balance will restart an expiration date.