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Rather than going the traditional route of selling wreaths, pizza, candy or something else to raise funds, youth minister Pat Brueggen introduced a program this year in which a donor does not get an immediate return on his or her investment. Instead, the church is selling “stock” in its youth members.
Purchase two shares, and you will be eligible to attend a year-end “stockholders” meeting, where young people will serve dinner and talk about how they used the donated funds.
“We want to sell the interest in our youth. So we don’t just make a dime on every dollar that’s being spent from the people who are giving, but 100 percent of that money comes back towards the youth,” Brueggen said.
Stocks sell for $25 a share and can be purchased from the church office by calling (608) 526-4424 or by e-mailing seasyouth@charter.net.
Brueggen said the money will help pay for sending kids to summer camp, conferences, bus trips and buying necessary items.
Young people don’t need to be a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church to go on the trips. Brueggen hopes other community members and business people who aren’t church members will choose to become stockholders.
The date of the stockholders’ meeting has not been set, but it will be after the summer of activities.
“Youth will serve stockholders (dinner), give talks on what they experienced at the camps and what portion of the money they used out of the fund — where it went and how it was spent — so we are accountable for being good stewards of the money,” Brueggen said.
Adam Bissen is a reporter with the Holmen Courier.
