Prosect High School raises funds selling mattresses
When it comes to fundraising, high school clubs and teams mostly stick to selling candy bars and wrapping paper.
Not the Prospect High School Knights.
In 2013, the school's girls and boys track and field and cross country teams added mattress sales to their annual fundraising efforts. The one-day sale, which this year took place Saturday in the high school's cafeteria, is a joint effort between the school, which provides the space, and a company called Custom Fundraising Solutions. CFS provides salespeople and floor samples, handles order placement and delivery, and shares proceeds from each sale.
"They're doing 90 percent of the work; we're providing the venue," said Mike Stokes, Prospect High head cross country coach, who helps coordinate the fundraiser.
Proceeds will go toward equipment including pole vault poles and shot puts; help with charter bus rentals; and help with the purchase of gels and spikes for team members' shoes.
"It's a really nice reciprocal deal," Stokes said. "It's better than hawking candy bars or cookie dough."
After selling 72 mattresses, a near record, in 2013, sales dropped to 42 last year. Stokes attributed the dip to bad timing, the result of scheduling the event on President's Day weekend. The goal this year is 90 mattresses sold, Stokes said. There were a steady stream of shoppers Saturday afternoon.
"There are a lot of options - a lot more than I thought," said Karen Kruse, a Prospect High School English teacher looking for a new mattress for her teenage son. "And the prices aren't outrageous. It's a win-win-win situation."
Shoppers of all ages tested the 22 models, including softer-than-a-cloud pillow top mattresses, gel versions that conform to the body, and some as firm as a park bench from manufacturers including Simmons, Beautyrest, Therapedic and Restonic among others.
The selection was more than adequate, said Jill Renaud, who was out shopping with her husband Martin.
"I go with what he likes. He's more particular," said the Mount Prospect resident. "He's going to try out every single bed anyway. If there were 100, we'd be here all day."
Sizes ranged from twin to California king, in prices ranging from $199 to $2,500, said Mark Matejka, brother of CFS founder Joe Matejka. All are made-to-order, come with warranties ranging from 10 to 25 years and arrive in about two weeks, he said.
"Anything you can do at Macy's, you can do here," Matejka said.
Erma Pacheco, of Wheeling, and her friend Maria Chavez, of Des Plaines, were on their way to Chicago Saturday to make a purchase when they saw PHS track and field athletes standing on a street corner waiving signs advertising the sale.
"Why go all the way to Chicago? I knew what I wanted," said Pacheco, who found what she was looking for in the high school cafeteria.