Paly Sports Boosters will look to raise funds for Paly sports teams this year through sales of Christmas trees in the campus parking lot at the corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road.
This is the first year that Sports Boosters has held a Christmas tree fundraiser, according to Karan Barich, treasurer of Sports Boosters.
“Mountain View High School athletics ran one last year with these same [vendors] and it turned out to be a good fundraiser for them,” Barich said. “We were told about their lot last year, visited, and decided it might work well for us, especially since we have such a prime location on El Camino.”
Sports Boosters have sold 100 trees since the tree lot opened on Nov. 27, according to Sports Boosters President Tina Bono.
Members of Paly sports teams have the opportunity to work at the lot after school and on weekends, Barich said. Profits will be split between the Sports Boosters and individual teams. For sports teams, profits will be shared based upon the total number of hours each team spends working at the lot. Student volunteers also receive volunteer hours for their work.
Sports Boosters have taken several measures to increase incentive to purchase a Christmas tree at the Paly lot, according to Bono. Paly families received discount coupons in the mail and 50 percent of any purchase from the lot is tax-deductible. In addition, customers may designate a specific sports team to receive the proceeds from their purchases.
“Expenses have gone up this year with the addition of the boys’ lacrosse team to the Paly athletic program and expenses incurred over the summer with the renovation of the gym entryway,” including new paint, flooring, and trophy cases, Barich said. “Any additional funding is welcome.”
Sports Boosters are partnering with Paly parents and Christmas tree associates Gerry Sorensen and Nick and Christine Peterson to coordinate the import of noble firs from Oregon.
Sorensen and the Petersons originally suggested a Christmas tree fundraiser for Paly sports “years ago,” Bono said.
“Under the ex-superintendent, Mary Francis Callan, they could not get approval [for the lot], but this superintendent [Kevin Skelly] and Paly administration have been very keen on fundraising and have been wholeheartedly in agreement with our efforts on the tree lot.”
Bono said she is pleased with the performance of the new fundraiser. “As this is the first year, this is all an experiment,” Bono said. “It’s an effort in helping our sports teams fundraise in a way that provides a service to the community.”
The Paly Sports Boosters Christmas Tree Lot is open on weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. until Dec. 20. Paly staff and coaches receive a 20 percent discount.