Everyday Shopping Generates Profits

Scrip is a fund raising program designed so that a percentage of your everyday purchases turn into cash contributions made directly to our school. This program provides an opportunity for businesses to give back to the community that supports them. Our school depends on this program as part of our annual operating budget.

Each retailer establishes what percentage of purchases it will contribute back to the school. Knowing how much each retailer will contribute will help you make more informed shopping choices. Some retailers will contribute back as much as 20%, others as low as 1%. We clearly mark on the Scrip Order Form exactly how much each retailer is currently contributing. The Scrip Committee, along with suggestions from school and parish families, will research new opportunities for Scrip participants throughout the year. There are times when a retailer will choose to opt out of the program.

Friends and Family can help by siging up for eScrip and choosing Mount Carmel as the beneficiary and buy Scrip through the school – you earn the credit. They do need to complete the Scrip Family and Friends form and return it to the school office in order for you to receive the credit.

There are two ways in which you can participate in Scrip. One is electronic (eScrip), and the second is the purchase of gift certificates and gift cards (paper Scrip).

What is Paper Scrip?

The school purchases gift certificates and gift cards at a discounted price, and the school earns the difference between the face value (your purchase price) and the negotiated price. We carry gift cards for the places you shop at everyday – Safeway, Arco, Shell, Chevron, Lucky, Longs, Gap, Payless Shoes, Toys R Us, Starbucks and Whole Foods, to name just a few. We also have many more retailers that can be Special Ordered on a weekly basis. Orders are placed every Monday and are delivered the following Thursday.

As a rule – paper Scrip (gift cards and certificates) purchased thru the school provide a greater contribution back to the school, sometimes as much as 20%. This not only makes it a good fundraiser for the school, but you meet your annual Scrip commitment easier and faster.

So what is eScrip?

eScrip is a national program where you, your family members and friends register their debit, credit cards and retailer specific cards (like Macy’s and Safeway) at www.escrip.com, designating Mount Carmel School as the primary benefactor.

Every purchase you make at a participating eScrip retailer is automatically calculated and credited to your scrip account and then to the school. Some of the biggest retailers only participate this way, and their contributions are in the 1 to 2% range. eScrip is very convenient to use, however, these contribution percentages are continually shrinking. For more information about retailers who participate, be sure to visit eScrip.

Scrip Share

At the end of the school year, if you have exceeded your net profit commitment to the school of $230.00, the excess amount is split 50/50 with the school. You can choose to have your portion credited to your tuition for the coming school year, or you can designate your portion to be donated to a fund of your choice (e.g. endowment, Adopt a Student, Technology, Library, etc.).

Scrip Myths

I am signed up with eScrip, so I don’t need to buy any gift cards/paper Scrip.

eScrip alone will, most likely, not get you to your commitment. Why? Because the rebate back to the school with eScrip is significantly lower than with gift cards/paper Scrip. For example, using eScrip alone, you would need to purchase/spend over $20,000 in 12 months at Safeway to meet your commitment. By purchasing Safeway gift cards through the school, you would only need to spend $10,000 per year at Safeway to not only meet, but exceed your commitment.

Moral of the story?

Use both. Combine eScrip with gift card/paper Scrip purchases. We have lots of inventory in stock for all your favorite places, and Special Orders are placed every Monday, and sent home the following Thursday. Make buying Scrip a habit. Purchase just your gas and grocery needs each week and you will easily meet your commitment, and you might even go over your commitment amount and receive a rebate at the end of the school year.

301 Grand Street, Redwood City, CA 94062. 650.366.6127