Have you ever participated in a read-a-thon? We ran across www.read-a-thon.com the other day and we started thinking about how much sense the concept makes for schools – especially elementary schools.

In recent years it seems like the only people considering read-a-thons were librarians. But when you consider the amount of money that can be raised it becomes very clear that read-a-thons should be tops on the list for principals and PTA’s needing to raise money.

Consider the following:

If a school has 1,000 students and each student is willing to read 5 books over a 2 month period can you guess the potential net result of a read-a-thon?

Don’t you think it’s reasonable that each student can get 10 people to pledge $5 per book read?

So do the math. One thousand students times 5 books equals 5,000 books read. The students got $5 pledges for each of the books they read so that’s now $25,000.

BUT 10 different people pledge the $5 per book so the potential for the fundraiser is now $250,000!!!

So you’re first reaction is that you never get 100% participation, right? So let’s say half the students read. That’s still $125,000.

You question whether each student can get 10 people to pledge money for books read? That’s why we were intrigued with www.read-a-thon.com. They provide all of the tools to bring read-a-thons into the digital world. Readers are now no longer limited to family and neighbors. Now they can request pledges from anyone they have an email address for or are connected to via any of the major social media. Now getting 10 people to pledge their support is easier than ever.

Finally consider how reasonable requesting $5 per book is. Don’t you think grand parents, aunts & uncles, good friends, etc will support a student and their desire to read books to raise money?