Michael Stein: Internet Strategy for the Nonprofit Sector

Cragmont School PTA is Top 200 Earner in Safeway 10% Back to Schools Program

The Cragmont Elementary School PTA in Berkeley, California, announced today that they are one of the top 200 earning groups nationally in the recent Safeway 10% Back to Schools Program.  Over 15,000 schools participated. Cragmont School PTA earned over $1,700 by collecting Safeway receipts during the campaign in September 2008. As one of the top 200 groups, Safeway has contributed an additional $1,000 to Cragmont School.  In 2008, through this program alone, the Safeway family of stores has donated over $2.5 million to non-profit groups across the nation.

Students at Cragmont Elementary School collected receipts from shoppers at their local Safeway stores, and encouraged other parents and friends to participate. “It was great to get our students involved in a productive community activity that helps the school,” said parent Sue Martin, the Cragmont coordinator for the campaign, and the parent of 4th grader Sean.  “Working on the Safeway campaign was a lot of fun,” said Sean Martin-Hamburger, “It was exciting to collect so many receipts. We filled up more than six grocery bags! “

Cragmont School PTA plans to use their eScrip funds to support numerous school programs such as teaching assistants that help in classrooms, computer maintenance, and the school art and gardening programs.

Shattuck Safeway is happy to support the Berkeley schools. “We appreciate all that Safeway does and for their ongoing commitment to education and our local schools, especially at a time when public education needs strong financial and moral support.” says Amy Yamashiro, Cragmont PTA President. Cragmont sends a special thank you to the check out clerks at the who helped to draw attention to the campaign.

The 10% back to Schools Program is conducted in partnership with eScrip, a resource for fundraising where participating business partners contribute a percentage of their grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to the school, group or organization of their choice.  The eScrip program has distributed over $120 million to schools and youth organizations across the country since its inception in 1999.

Berkeley's Tilden Park merry-go-round reopening

After an eight-month restoration, the wonderful and unique Tilden Park carousel in the Berkeley hills has reopened after a $700,000 renovation. To protect the carousel, which some collectors reckon is valued at nearly $2.5 million, a weather-proof enclosure was built. The new doors and windows around the carousel slide open, kind of like a convertible, for when the weather is better. That will make things much cozier during the holidays when visitors go up to visit the Tilden Park Christmas tree next to the carousel.  Built in 1911, the carousel is nearing the 100-year mark. About 150,000 visitors ride the Tilden Park carousel every year.

Read a recent article about the carousel reopening in the San Francisco Chronicle

Berkeley's Monterey Market an icon for local produce

The San Francisco Chronicle published a great article on June 28, 2008, about Berkeley's Monterey Market which is my favorite local fruit and vegetable store:

The way Bill Fujimoto runs Monterey Market on Hopkins Street in Berkeley, you'd think he set out to turn it into the hub of the local East Bay food system that it is. Fujimoto buys from local growers - even those with just one or two prized rangpur lime or 'Hachiya' persimmon trees growing in the backyard. "There is no minimum," Fujimoto said. But local sourcing happens as much by default as by intent at Monterey Market. "I focus on seasonality and quality, and in doing so end up being very local."

Read the whole article