De Portola Middle School

Gift Card Program

WHAT ARE GIFT CARDS?

The program works by parents, friends, relatives and community members purchasing gift cards through De Portola’s Gift Card Program... De Portola receives a percentage of each purchase. Shopping with gift cards can earn the school money without families spending a penny more than they would normally.
Gift cards are prepaid cards/certificates that are used just like cash. Depending on the merchant, the gift card may be a plastic card or a paper certificate. You can use gift cards to make everyday purchases or give them as gifts.
With nearly 100 different merchants offering gift cards/certificates for restaurants, clothes, gasoline, phone, department stores, music, books, etc., there is a gift card for everyone and every occasion. (see De Portola’s Gift Card Order Form).

With every dollar you spend in gift card purchases, you receive the same dollar value in gift cards AND you support our school because the school was able to purchase those gift cards at a percentage discount.
Each merchant offers a different percentage ranging from 2% to 18%. The amount earned will vary depending on which merchants’ gift cards you purchase.
Gift cards are like cash. They cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.

HOW DOES OUR SCHOOL MAKE MONEY?

Gift cards are available to non-profit organizations at a discounted rate. The gift cards are then sold at face value. The difference between the discount rate and face value is our profit.
Unlike most fundraisers, families are not asked to spend any additional money. When you buy a gift card for $100, you receive the full $100 value. All you are asked to do is adjust the way you shop by using gift cards instead of cash, checks, etc.

With gift cards, families do not need to change where they shop, what they buy, or even how much they spend. By planning ahead and purchasing gift cards from the school for those merchants where you typically shop, the school makes money.
Don’t let the name ‘gift card’ distract you. They are not only for ‘gift giving.’ Can you imagine the money the school can earn if everyone buys Vons/Albertson’s Gift Cards and the school gets 4% of what you would normally spend on groceries?! What potential!

HOW IT WORKS

Purchase gift cards by completing a Gift Card Order Form and return the completed form and payment to your child’s teacher (or drop the form off at the front office).
You can also purchase gift cards from Maria Hoelck every day at the front office.
Discounts earned go to the De Portola Foundation to support your school.
On occasion, gift cards will also be available for purchase at the Farmers Market.
Examples:

Order $100.00 in Macy’s gift cards... you will receive a $100.00 worth of gift cards that you can use for store purchases. In addition, you will earn $9.00 for our school ($100.00 x 9%).

Order $100.00 in Vons or Albertson’s gift cards, receive a $100.00 worth of gift cards and earn $4.00 for our school ($100.00 x 4%).
Once gift cards are purchased, refunds are not available. Exchanges may be allowed in certain circumstances. Please contact the coordinator with questions.

Each merchant determines the type of gift card to offer and any restrictions on their use. Some merchants offer paper gift cards, while other merchants offer gift cards that retain the unused balance.
The front office will also have a binder available listing all the De Portola staff and teachers’ favorite places to shop and eat. No more guessing if the teacher would prefer Starbucks or Jamba Juice. For your ‘teacher gifts’n you will know exactly where they love to eat and shop.

HOW TO GET STARTED

There is nothing required to get started. Just send in an order form to your child’s teacher or the front office (check payable to: De Portola Foundation). Your gift cards can be picked up at the front office or sent home with your child. Indicate your preference on the order form. More order forms are available online or at school.
You can also buy gift cards directly from Maria at the front office. We keep an inventory of the most popular retailers available so you can purchase the gift cards and take them home right away.

The attached order form lists the most popular gift cards for the San Diego area. You can also go to www.glscrip.com to see the full list of retailers nationwide.
If you have any questions, you can e-mail Jackie Pape at jackiepape@hotmail.com or Judy Bialock at judy@thebizos.com or Maria Hoelck at mhoelck@sandi.net .

Thank you for your support...

Jackie Pape, Judy Bialock, Maria Hoelck
Gift Card Coordinators