Race for Education

Each year Race for Education is our “kick off” fundraising event that is instrumental in providing a quality education for children at Shalom Christian Academy. Race for Education funds are used to support Shalom's annual fund.

Again this year, we are using PledgeStar. - What is PledgeStar?

Pledgestar is an awesome web based fundraising system that makes it much easier for you to request pledges from your family and friends, and for them to make secure credit card donations online. It's fun, it's easy, and people who use it typically raise twice as much as those who don't!

Remember, our Race for Education 2023 is a PreK - Kindergarten run on October 4th; 1st-12th Grade run on October 6th, so please register now to help our school raise as much as we can for quality and essential curriculum materials for our school, along with helping offset tuition costs and making our school more affordable. We invite families to come out and support their runners on Race Day! Bring a lawn chair and come cheer on your runner.

If 90% of each class participates they will qualify for great prizes! See the prize list at http://pledgestar.com/ShalomChristian

Directions for Using Pledgestar to Get Pledges

HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS - You can register with a computer or with phone/tablet

If you have sponsors that don't have access to a computer, please stop by the office and request a pledge packet to collect checks.

Using your computer's browser:

Go to http://pledgestar.com/ShalomChristian
Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”
Follow the instructions on-screen to register Runner(s) and add family and friends

Using your Android or Apple phone or tablet:

Go to the Apple App Store on IOS or the Amazon App Store on Android and search for
"PledgeStar" to download the Family App, or go to https://pledgestar.com/ShalomChristian/downloadapp.html
On the home screen enter your event code: “ShalomChristian” to locate your event
Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit"
Follow the instructions on-screen to register Runner(s) and add family and friends.

When you finish, the system emails pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows them to make secure credit card donations online. You get notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online.
Call 1-888-598-7510 if you need help.

2023 Race for Education Times

Volunteer at Race for Education

Prizes

If 90% of each class participates, they will qualify for great prizes!

For students to earn the prizes you need to submit the following pledge requests -

PreK-2nd graders - submit 15 pledge request names into the PledgeStar system
3rd- 5th graders - submit 15 pledge request names into the PledgeStar system
6th-8th graders - submit 20 pledge request names into the PledgeStar system
9th-12th graders - submit 25 pledge request names into the PledgeStar system

See the prize list here -http://pledgestar.com/ShalomChristian

FAQ's

How does PledgeStar handle "per lap" pledges?

PledgeStar allows both flat and per unit pledges. For Race for Education, a unit is a lap. After the event, PledgeStar emails notifications to family and friends who made per unit pledges telling them how many units were completed, and linking them to the participant's fundraising page to make payment.

Can family and friends pay by check instead of using a credit card online?

Yes. Family and friends who elect to pay by check will be sent "pay by check" instructions. PledgeStar will even send them a reminder if they forget to send the check.

Since PledgeStar knows the check is coming, it makes it easy for you to confirm receipt. It also automatically splits the money evenly between participants in the same family.

Checks typically account for 17% of the donations received through PledgeStar. Of course, credit card processing fees do not apply to donations made by check.

We have three children. Will our family and friends get an email from each child?

No. PledgeStar sends a single pledge request for all the participants in your family. Donations to families with multiple participants get split evenly.

Example: For your three participating children, your family and friends receive a single pledge request, and a $60 donation gets split $20 per child.

What do you do with the data you collect?

PledgeStar does not use or disclose data collected on the website in any way beyond what is needed to email pledge requests, collect donations, send notifications, and provide reports.

Is online payment information secure?

Absolutely! PledgeStar uses industry standard SSL encryption to ensure credit card information can't be seen over the Internet, and it never stores credit card data internally.

Who do event staff, parents, and their families and friends contact for help?

PledgeStar provides toll-free support to parents and their family and friends. You may email questions to support@pledgestar.com or call (888) 598-7510.