From “It Sounds Crazy!” to “Best Fundraiser EVER!” …in 61 Mattresses

Behind every successful “Mattress Fundraiser” is a motivated coach or director. Behind every motivated coach or director, is a persistent CFS fundraising expert, wanting to help that program make a lot of money. Bensalem High School has one such story.

Band director Mike Zimmerman got his first “Mattress Fundraiser” email in January of 2013.  Like most staff, Mike is busy, and selling mattresses as a fundraiser “sounded crazy”, so he didn’t exactly jump at the opportunity right away.  But local CFS representative, Dave Cox, of Philadelphia,  didn’t cross Mike off his list. “Dave kept dropping me messages, and stopping by my school to catch me,” said Zimmerman.  “He finally caught me one afternoon, we talked for about 30 minutes, and the rest is history!”

Last September, the Bensalem HS Marching Band ran their first-ever “Mattress Fundraiser”. 

They sold 61 mattresses out of their gym that day, and in the process raised $8,000!  “The place looked great!  This is, in my opinion, THE best way to buy a mattress!” said Zimmerman.   “Great beds, comfortable environment, NO pressure, and really nice people helping out.  It became a big community event!  People were hanging out, lying on beds, and having conversations!  It was fun!”

Before the day was over, the director had already picked the date for the following year’s event.  The “Mattress Fundraiser” will be bouncing back into Bensalem on September 20th this year - and Zimmerman can’t wait.  “Easiest fundraiser EVER!” he said.   “We do a TON of fundraising.  This program was professional, and super easy!  All of the materials were provided by CFS…even the email and Facebook material!  He told me what to send and when, and I got the information out to our community.  It was easy!”

The best part of this story is that Custom Fundraising Solutions has a new raving fan. “I’ve been telling everyone I know about it…other band directors, friends, etc.  I tell all of them that they need to run this one… it sounds crazy, but without a hesitation, JUST DO IT!  This IS crazy, but it works!”

Thanks Bensalem High School Band for your support and enthusiasm!

A Mention by Al Roker! Virginia Band Uses Mattress Fundraiser To Gets To Rose Parade

A New Year’s Day tradition that takes place in living rooms across the country, is the watching of the Rose Parade, part of Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses. (At least its tradition for those of us who didn’t make the trip to Pasadena, to see it in person.) The parade boasts the best bands in the land, which are peppered among floating floral masterpieces and high-stepping equestrians. This year’s 126th annual event included a band that is very special to Stephen McCarthy, the CFS Virginia dealer. The Westfield High School Marching Bulldogs, from Chantilly, Virginia needed a creative way to send their 270-piece group to Pasadena. Their hefty fundraising goal needed some heavy hitting and the CFS Mattress Fundraiser was just the ticket. In just one day, they sold 80 beds, and received a check for $10,000. While watching the parade from your sofa, you might have heard the famous Al Roker talk about how the band did ‘something he’d never heard of before…a Mattress Sale!’ This moment made all of us at Custom Fundraising Solutions very proud. Our mission to give back millions of dollars to schools and organizations all across the country was recognized on national TV. We want to say “thank you” to all the groups we work with – you are all success stories!