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Published February 12th, 2014
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Safeway eScrip Changes Spark School Fundraising Concerns Oscar night party planned to drum up donations
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| By Laurie Snyder |
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Normally the purview of acclaimed actors during Academy Awards season, nausea and nail biting have also become habits du jour for members of the Miramonte High School Parent Club (MHSPC). It all started in October when the normally upbeat group learned that actions by a local corporation had the potential to rip through MHSPC's unsinkable fundraising machine faster than James Cameron's CGI-generated iceberg chewed through the Titanic.
Historically, MHSPC has relied on revenues generated from Safeway's involvement with Electronic Script Incorporated, the California corporation which launched eScrip in 1999 to help businesses support kid-focused community groups. Today, schools typically earn from 1 to 4 percent of qualifying Safeway purchases.
The 2013-14 take for MHSPC was expected to be $25,000. But on Nov. 1, Safeway changed the rules. Credit card purchases no longer earn eScrip. Only items bought with cash, debit card, check, SmartCheck, WIC, SNAP/CalFresh, or Safeway Gift Cards still qualify.
"We were notified of this change Oct. 3, 2013 after our budget was set for the school year," said Miramonte High School Parent Club member Sharon Hillstrom. "For many parents, buying groceries with a credit card was a two-for-one benefit, helping their child's school and earning airline miles."
Safeway clearly believes it has taken a positive step. In the Nov. 18 San Francisco Business Times, Safeway spokesperson Teena Massingill said the grocery giant made the change while also lifting its $25,000 per school donation cap - a decision she said would be popular with active school supporters. "Ours is a business with razor-thin profit margins. It is difficult to make a donation from a sale when we also incur a high credit-card-transaction fee on that sale."
According to figures provided by MHSPC, the impact is clear. Purchases plummeted from $676,470 in October to $344,240 in November - after Safeway's new policy took effect. Hillstrom worries MHSPC won't meet its goal, as does MHSPC fundraising vice president, Jackie Moreau."Parent and school groups in Lamorinda, the East Bay and San Francisco all have similar concerns as eScrip has been their biggest source of income."
"Because I want to help the school and continue to earn airline miles, I'm now buying gift cards with my credit card, then paying for my groceries with the gift cards," said Sharon Noble. And MHSPC is also planning an exciting event to head off any shortfall from the eScrip shift.
"Ladies Night at the Oscars" will give Bay Area film fans a chance "to walk the red carpet and enjoy an evening of delicious catered appetizers, wine and champagne while the Oscars live stream on a huge screen," said Hillstrom. Fabulous raffle prizes will also be up for grabs.
Start helping your best gal pal squeeze into her Spanx now. The event will be held Sunday, March 2 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the J Colleen Boutique, 261 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette.Tickets are available for purchase through:https://miramonte.revtrak.net/tek9.asp.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA