Princeton Elementary School PTO Launch Program To Help Local Biz

PRINCETON, NJ — The Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) of four elementary schools in Princeton have come up with a unique initiative to help out small businesses and raise funds for schools in the community.

PTOs from Community Park, Johnson Park, Littlebrook, and Riverside have created a new discount card program, Princeton Perks, that will help close fundraising gaps and bolster shopping and dining around town.

Due to the pandemic, many in-person fundraisers have been cancelled this year.

“We saw that our beloved local businesses were struggling,” said Amalie Leano, a Community Park school parent and long-time Princetonian, who created the discount card.

“We wanted to mobilize an ‘army’ of public school families to shop and eat at local businesses again and again this year,” she said in a statement.

The PTOs see the program as a “win-win-win” - businesses would see a boost in customers, shoppers get a special deal, and the PTOs raise funds to support students and teachers.

A team of volunteers from the four schools collaborated over email and Zoom to roll out the card in six weeks.

Each PTO group will determine how best to utilize the funds raised. Proceeds from the sale of the card will go toward programs that provide extra support for families that need assistance, to reimburse teachers for out-of-pocket expenses and to make sure students are able to enjoy some of the special arts and culture programming that are a staple during non-pandemic times.

“We pride ourselves on being a strong community, taking care of each other. This is a cornerstone of who we are,” Sonja Ernst and Kati Dunn, Littlebrook PTO Co-Presidents, said in a statement.

“Princeton Perks initiative is an excellent example of how we keep standing together, beyond individuals, beyond individual schools, and beyond single businesses. We are one town working together.”

The Princeton Perks card costs $25 and gives cardholders special deals from more than 40 local restaurants and retailers through Dec. 31, 2021.

Card can be purchased by visiting www.princetonperks.com, and selecting the neighborhood school’s sales portal.

These cards will be available for purchase now through Feb. 28.

Here’s the list of participating businesses:

• The Bent Spoon
• The Blue Bears
• Chopt
• Creative Cakes by Sweta
• Custom Ink
• Eno Terra Restaurant & Enoteca
• jaZams
• Jules Thin Crust
• Kopp's Cycle
• La Jolie Salon & Spa
• Local Greek
• Local Q
• Mandalay Trading Company
• Mediterra Restaurant & Taverna
• Milk & Cookies
• Miya Home and Table
• More than Q
• Oink and Moo
• Olsson's Fine Foods
• Orvana
• Osteria Procaccini
• PJ's Pancake House
• Planted Plate
• Princeton Art Museum Store
• Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental
• Princeton Floral Design
• Princeton Playspace
• Princeton Record Exchange
• Princeton Soup & Sandwich Co.
• Pure Barre
• Room 16 Theatre Arts
• Rita's Italian Ice
• Small Bites by Local Greek
• Tacoria
• Teresa Caffe
• Terra Momo Bread Co.
• Thomas Sweet
• Tico's Eatery & Juice Bar
• Tidy Nerd
• Toobydoo
• Tranquility Den Massage
• Trattoria Procaccini
• Vaseful Flowers & Gifts
• ZOË

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