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Click here to download printable Gene Grawe Fund Order Form.
Click here for Gene Grawe Fund Local Merchant List.
Click here for Gene Grawe Fund National Merchant List.
Click here for the 2012-13 Gene Grawe Fund registration form due May 31, 2011.
Serving God by Helping Each Other
April 27, 2011
Dear Catholic School Supporter,
Six years ago the Gene Grawe Fund was started to help families pay for Catholic Education. This fund was started in memory of my dad, Gene Grawe who died in 2003 living with Parkinson’s for 17 years. In Ephesians 2:10 it says “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” Dad spent his life helping others and it gives me great joy to do the same. When we serve others, we are serving God, and my dad was a great example to me. I am proud and honored to be carrying on his legacy.
This past year was our third year that this fund was expanded city wide to help ALL families pay for Catholic Education. This is being offered again for all families that are attending Blessed Sacrament, St.Dominic, St.Francis, St.Peter K-8 or Quincy Notre Dame High School for the school year 2012-2013.
Our biggest fundraiser is selling gift cards to over 300 merchants nationwide. We sell gift cards for groceries, gas, landscaping, prescriptions, catering, restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruises, department stores, home improvements, etc. Obviously gas and groceries are our biggest sellers including County Market, Hy-Vee, Kohl Cash & Carry, Wal-Mart, BP, Cenex(Wilco), and Shell. We sell gift cards for their face value and The Gene Grawe Fund receives a percentage from the merchant. We make anywhere from 2-20%. The amount that you pay for the card is the amount that you receive. There is no additional cost to you.
For example, if you purchase a $100 card from The Gene Grawe Fund to HyVee, you receive the full $100 and at 5%, The Gene Grawe Fund makes $5. You are not out any extra money. This is money you would already be spending, and you are helping families pay for Catholic Education. We have many merchants available, both local and national. Kohl’s Department Store Cards can also be used to pay on your charge accounts at the store. A few cards to keep in mind that we make higher percentages on are TGIFridays (15%), Old Navy/Gap (14% limited time), Bath & Body (18% limited time), and Lands End (16%) which can be used at Kmart & Sears! Make your purchases count! We need you to use gift cards, not only for all of your gift giving, but also for your everyday shopping.
To view a current merchant list, please go to glscrip.com. You may print the list so you may have it for future reference. All of the merchants listed are available to get through The Gene Grawe Fund. In addition, the local merchants that we have are Bergman Nurseries(10%), Cenex (Wilco)(2%), County Market(5%), Designers Edge (5%), Farm & Home(5%), HyVee(5%), Kohl Cash & Carry(5%), Kutters (10%),McDonald’s (10%), Red Roof Car Wash ($1 tokens)(20%), Sprouts(10%), TCBY(10%), and TGIFridays (15%).
Another way that we generate funds for The Gene Grawe Fund is by applying and using a VISA card. This can be done online by going to onecause.com. We make an initial $20 just by using the card once, and thereafter, the fund receives 1% on every transaction that is made with this onecause VISA. Just think, if 100 people signed up for the VISA card and used it just once, $2,000 would be made, not to mention the 1% the fund would make from your purchases. I am not encouraging credit card use, but if you use them, please sign up for this one and help us generate funds to help support Catholic Education in Quincy. You will be helping the fund every time that you use it.
If you shop online you can also help The Gene Grawe Fund. Please go to onecause.com and register for the Gene Grawe Fund, and then you may go to over 300 merchants including Ebay, Oriental Trading, Kohls, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and many more. The Gene Grawe Fund will receive a percentage automatically. Many of these merchants can also use gift cards online so don’t forget to buy your gift card first!
The gift cards are available year round. This summer they will continue to be sold after your weekend masses. All of the parish offices will have these cards all summer long. It is critical that this summer you continue to use the cards. Last summer the usage of gift cards fell way down. If you continue to buy groceries & gas use these cards! I will continue to order once a week if I am out of what you need. Once school resumes all of the schools including Quincy Notre Dame will have the cards in their offices.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to support this fund. There are many families who need help now more than ever in sending their children to a Catholic School. This fund is an easy way to help them and help yourself. Yes it may take a little planning and getting in the habit of using the cards but it may make the difference of a family sending their child to one of our Catholic Schools. Last year we asked each family to average $100 a week. We don’t want you to get caught up with spending the minimum. We want you to spend the maximum! Wherever you shop, if you can use gift cards please do so. Also, make sure you put your child’s first and last name on the memo of your check so we can track how the families are supporting this fund. I would suggest using your child’s youngest name that is in school. It is important to have your family and friends support this but you also need to support this yourself. This is not just a free hand out. Please don’t rely on others to buy the cards for you. Everyone needs gas and groceries!
Again this year we will have the top five families who purchase the most cards will each win a $100 gift card to the fund. This will be tracked from May 1st 2011 to April 15th 2012. We must have your registration form for this to be tracked so send in your form early and start buying cards. Also your child’s name must be put on the check memo to count. Tell your supporters this also. Both first and last names need to be on the memo.
I want to thank all of you who have supported this fund this past year. Many of you have sold to coworkers, families, friends, etc to help make this fund grow. I also want to thank all of you who have helped in any way with this fund by selling the cards after school/mass. I also want to thank those of you who continue to support this fund but have chosen to not receive funds for your family. May God Bless each of you.
Please fill out the registration form. Even if you decide next spring you may not need or want any funds please register. Only families registered will be eligible for the funds. This year there is a deadline for the form to be returned by May 31, 2011. It is also important to include your email address so I can keep you updated on changes and bonuses and new things happening with this fund. Any questions please email or call me.
You can really make a difference in what you pay for tuition. Let’s live our lives helping others. Remember, we are called to help each other and when we help others, we are serving God. Thank you for all of your support.
God Bless,
JoAnn M. Witte, President, The Gene Grawe Fund, Inc.
(224-1245, wittefam@adams.net)