Franklin Academy’s annual Jog-a-Thon was a standout success this year, raising $57,000 and surpassing the school’s original goal of $50,000. Coordinated by Joanna, the event marked the highest amount ever raised through this fundraiser and showcased the strength of Franklin Academy’s school community.
The funds will help offset the cost of field trips and support community events such as roller skating outings and the school’s Fall Festival, experiences that students look forward to all year.
A Fundraiser Built for Participation
This year marked Franklin Academy’s first time using PledgeStar, and the platform played a key role in the fundraiser’s success. The decision to use PledgeStar came down to its reasonable fees and ease of setup, both for organizers and for families.
“Having a single link to send out to families to set up an account was great,” Joanna shared. “It made getting started incredibly simple.”
Once registered, students could easily send donation requests to extended family and friends, helping the fundraiser quickly gain momentum.
One of the most impactful tools was PledgeStar’s real-time dashboard, which showed fundraising totals both overall and by class. Teachers regularly pulled up the dashboard in their classrooms to show students how close they were to earning class rewards.
Each class that collectively raised $2,000 earned a party of their choice. Students eagerly collaborated to decide how they would celebrate, with options including pizza parties, donut parties, and even an upcoming Lego party.
“Watching the kids work together to plan their parties and support each other was one of my favorite parts,” Joanna said. “It showed how strong our student community really is.”
Fee Coverage Adds Extra Support
Franklin Academy also benefited from PledgeStar’s fee coverage option, which brought in an additional $758.85. The school appreciated having the feature available.
An All-Day Celebration
Event day felt more like a celebration than a fundraiser. The Jog-a-Thon ran throughout the day with four age-based running groups, a DJ providing music, and the Athletic Director keeping the energy high on the microphone as the event’s official hype leader.
Families showed up in large numbers, volunteering to mark laps and help distribute snacks. Even older students joined in during their lunch periods to cheer on younger runners.
“Our kids are very competitive,” Joanna laughed. “They are all in on running the most laps, but they are also great about congratulating each other.”
Prizes were awarded in each grade level to the boy and girl who completed the most laps, adding to the excitement and motivation.
Community at the Center
Parent volunteers, teachers, and staff all played vital roles in making the day run smoothly. Teachers actively encouraged students by tracking progress, celebrating milestones, and reinforcing teamwork rather than individual competition.
One particularly memorable moment came from a first grader who raised the most funds overall. Her family shared that it was incredibly easy to send her personal fundraising link through email and social media, allowing extended family members to participate effortlessly.
Lasting Impact Beyond the Numbers
While the financial success was significant, Joanna emphasized that the true value of the Jog-a-Thon goes beyond dollars raised.
“Our school serves students from age three through eighth grade,” she explained. “Using an event like this to connect everyone is a huge building block for relationships across age groups.”
The Jog-a-Thon strengthened school spirit, encouraged collaboration, and reinforced a culture of support that extends well beyond the event itself.
After such a positive first experience, Franklin Academy plans to continue using PledgeStar in the future.
“PledgeStar was the easiest system to implement of all the platforms we have tried,” Joanna said. “The fees are reasonable, and the support staff were quick to help whenever questions came up.”
With record-breaking results and a joyful, community-centered event, Franklin Academy’s Jog-a-Thon set a new standard for what school fundraising can achieve when participation is simple and the focus stays on connection.
