Schools
Vote! Help Walt Disney Elementary Win Some Needed Money
Parents go viral in their efforts to win an online contest - see who is voting and Tweeting on their behalf.
With state and district budgets getting tighter and tighter, it’s understandable some local schools are looking for creative ways to raise a little cash. School bake sales? So 1970s.
The parents and staff at Walt Disney Elementary in South San Ramon have taken their efforts online, competing against thousands of other schools nationwide in a cyber voting contest. And they could use the help – daily votes! – of everyone reading this article.
Recognizing their school is much smaller than most in the competition and therefore at a disadvantage, the parents have taken their cause viral, initiating an email campaign, embracing social media, and even turning to a few public figures to help get out the vote. California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom? He’s Tweeted on their behalf, encouraging his 1.2 million Twitter followers to push the school to the top. San Ramon Mayor Bill Clarkson? He’s voting for the school as well.
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Walt Disney Elementary is now in 7th place nationwide. The top 5 schools will win $13,500 in cash, gift cards, and office supplies.
“We’re so close!” said Val Mohr, PTA president at Walt Disney Elementary. “Our community has been emailing, posting and texting to get the word out to vote for Walt Disney. It’s great to see all our friends and families voting!”
Find out what's happening in San Ramonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Their efforts are a true testament to the power of social media, as well as the dedication and commitment of so many parents and teachers. They’ve been enlisting friends, family members and local businesses such as Mexxi’s Restaurant to vote for Disney. One mother of a second grader even hit up her husband’s fantasy football friends – and they’ve delivered.
Voting in the Give Back to Schools contest is quick, easy and free. Anyone with a valid email address is eligible to vote once per day for Disney Elementary through Sept. 14. So what are you waiting for? Let’s help Walt Disney Elementary rock the vote!
How You Can Help
- Vote for Walt Disney Elementary every day through Sept. 14
- Encourage your friends to vote for Walt Disney Elementary by posting reminders on Facebook, Twitter or other social media outlets
- Prefer to make a charitable contribution instead? Walt Disney’s education foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all monetary donations to the school are tax deductible
