Check-a-thon is a fundraising drive where we encourage students to ask family, friends and community members for checks of any amount to support our school. Rather than selling overpriced cookie dough, gift wrap, etc., where the school keeps less than 50% of the funds, we request TAX DEDUCTIBLE donations in the form of checks, cash, and credit/debit cards via our website (using a secure online payment method) which are then 100% committed to WGA.

We encourage kids to think innovatively and entrepreneurially to raise the funds by creating videos to ask, setting up lemonade stands, selling art work or any number of ideas which gives kids the opportunity to participate with civic pride in their community and bettering their school.

Yes. WGA PTO is a member of the Chandler School Boosters, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (tax id #35-2451830). No goods or services are provided in return for your contribution. 

Check-a-thon donations are NOT the same as the school tax credit, and you can donate to both. Please consult a tax professional with questions regarding your personal situation. 

A paper receipt for each donation will be sent home with the student for whom it was submitted within a few days of the donation being received. The receipt includes the necessary information and signatures needed to submit for tax purposes verifying WGA PTO's 501c3 status as a division of the Chandler School Boosters.

If you do not receive your receipt for any Check-a-thon donations, please email wga.pto.treasurer@gmail.com and include:  your name, student name, teacher, and date of donation so another receipt can be provided.

There are 3 ways to donate during Check-a-thon:

• CHECKS: Please make checks payable to "WGA PTO" and submit via the provided envelopes. Multiple checks can be sent in each envelope. Any additional checks just need to be labeled with your child’s name, teacher and grade.

• CREDIT/DEBIT: Online donations are also accepted using the 'DONATE' button via our website (through a secure online payment method).

• CASH: We also accept cash via the envelopes, but it is not encouraged.

The kids should be encouraged to raise the funds themselves to support the ideal of civic responsibility and community pride. Of course, they should be encouraged to do so in a safe and conscientious way. Emailing, calling or texting family members and friends is a great way for them to easily raise funds and participate in the event. Videos are a fun way to show their spirit and spread the word.

Get creative: Make a video to send via email and text. Sell artwork, homemade jewelry, snacks, etc. Set up a lemonade stand or bake sale.

People to ask: friends and family, parent’s coworkers, pediatrician, hairdresser, neighbors, etc.

Any amount is helpful and it all adds up!

If you need any ideas, feel free to reach out to our Check-a-thon Committee!

Many employers offer matching charitable funds, including Intel, Honeywell and Wells Fargo. Please contact your HR department or company portal for details on how to properly submit a matching charitable donation through your employer. Once submitted, please forward the confirmation (email, document, screenshot, etc.) to wgapto@gmail.com so we can follow up on any submissions.

There are many opportunities to volunteer to help with Check-a-thon including but not limited to creating decorations for the Family Build, event set-up, counting money, raffle prize preparation, event breakdown and cleanup, and the pizza party for top earners. To view more information or sign-up please click Volunteer Opportunities

While Check-a-thon donations vary wildly they are completely dependent on your personal comfort level, last year donations ranged from $10-$10,000. While $10,000 is absolutely an outlier, there are many families who donate in the hundreds and plenty more in the $25-100 range. The average donation amount last year was about $150.

We strongly encourage kids to advocate for the support of friends, family, neighbors, etc. and even had a section in FLITE devoted to non-profit organizations and businesses to encourage kids to think outside the box on how THEY can raise money to support THEIR school and THEIR community. 

Every donation is 100% tax deductible thanks to the 501c3 status and 100% of the funds go back into the school and directly benefit the students, teachers and WGA community. WGA provides our students with a robust, high quality education with access to technology, the arts and an extremely dynamic learning atmosphere which is all funded by the Check-a-thon dollars we raise each year and we are so grateful for our community and every dollar that is contributed.

Students will earn one (1) raffle ticket for each $50.00 amount donated.

Raffle prizes include Squishmallows, Squishmallows and more Squishmallows, as well as Lego sets, science kits, mystery wands, fidgets, and so much more! There are also THREE grand prize Nintendo Switch Lites with Lego Harry Potter game sets this year!

The top two earners in each homeroom will win a pizza lunch with their teaching team.

The top earning grade in K-3 and 4-6 will earn a “party-in-a-box” for their classes to celebrate with at a time that works best for them. Class earnings are calculated based on the average donation per student.

If you have any additional questions, comments, or feedback about anything related to Check-a-thon, contact our Check-a-thon Committee Chairs (Erin and/or Apple) at wga.pto.checkathon@gmail.com.