Frequently Asked Questions

I have compiled a list of twenty-one questions with answers to provide you with clarity for any concerns you may have.  However, if you have a question that is not listed here, or you need more information, please e-mail me at twfundraising@t-wise-book.com or call me at #808-738-9473.  I am here to help you understand how these two programs work, and I personally answer each and every question or inquiry myself.  

#1.)
Question:  Why was the name changed for this fundraiser program?
Answer:  In an effort to minimize confusion, this fundraiser has been renamed the Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program.  Committees from different states and in Canada call grad night festivities different names; project graduation, safe and sober grad, safe grad, sober grad, dry grad, prom grad, grad nite, etc.  However, they all have one thing in common; providing a safe, enjoyable place that is drug and alcohol free for graduates on their graduation night.  Thus, I thought it would be best to use the commonality of ‘grad night’ in the title instead of project graduation. From herein this fundraiser will be called the Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program.  The contract and forms with the old name will still be honored, as we transition through this process.  Everything pertaining to this fundraiser has been updated on this website to reflect this name change.

#2.)  
Question:  What is the Teen Wise book about?
Answer:  Teen Wise: Third Edition is a guidance book written for preteens and teenagers to help them build decision and cognitive reasoning skills. Each chapter is devoted to its own grade level, beginning with the sixth and ending with the twelfth. There are ten different age appropriate, real-life examples of situations and/or dilemmas in each chapter, along with three different answer choices and a consequence or a benefit listed as a probable outcome for that specific illustration. The preteen or teenager has an opportunity to ponder the decisions presented in Teen Wise: Third Edition by reviewing the answer choices and outcomes beforehand. The goal is to create solutions before problems develop or occur.

#3.)
Question: Is this fundraiser real? Can we really make $10.00 a book we sell and win a new Honda?
Answer:  Yes!  Because the books are ordered directly through me, the author, and not Amazon or any other book distributor, I am able to offer the profit margin to the participants of the Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program.  As for the Honda, I have worked out a great deal for the cars with the Honda franchise because they want to be involved and support a program that promotes safe teenage driving and the importance of keeping graduates safe on graduation night.  I could have picked any type of car for this fundraising and car giveaway campaign, as other dealerships were very interested, but I chose Honda Civic LX’s specifically because these cars are safe and easy to drive for teenagers.  Honda’s are also good quality cars with great engines, and they look nice too!  The Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program and the Teen Wise Honda Car Giveaway Incentive Program are very real and will be available every year for grad committees and high school senior classes throughout the United States and Canada.

#4.)
Question:  I am a senior in high school and want to do this fundraiser, but how?
Answer: You will need to contact your grad committee chairperson or high school official and let them know about the Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program and the Teen Wise Honda Car Giveaway Incentive Program. You may print out all the information from the link on the previous page and give it to them. Also, it may help to get a group of your classmates together who are also interested in participating to let your committee chairperson or principal know that you all want to do this fundraiser. There is power and success in numbers!

#5.)
Question:  If we win a car, how can we give it away?
Answer: Your grad committee or high school may choose any way they want to give away the car. Some suggestions are to do a name raffle, highest book sales, highest points earned, lucky number raffle, or key distribution just to name a few. Grad committees and high schools have full authority to execute their car giveaway prize at their own discretion.

A key distribution contest consists of every student receiving a key and trying to open the door, the winner of course is the person with the key that opens the door.  This choice is exciting because students get a real feel of anticipation when trying to turn the key to make the door open.  However, it is also time consuming and usually done after the celebration, so students may already be really tired.

#6.)
Question:  How hard is it to sell all those books to qualify to win the car?
Answer:  The average amount of books to be sold by each student is anywhere between 10-20 books, depending on your class size. For example, if a high school senior class has a size of 300-350 students, then each student would need to sell at least 10-12 books. That's it! This would earn them an approximate profit of $35,000.00 for their graduation safe celebration AND they would automatically "Be WINNERS!" of a brand new 2012 4-Door Black Honda Civic LX!

#7.)
Question:  Our senior class size has over 600 students, if we all sell 10-12 books this could add up to 7,200 books sold or more. Does this mean we would get another car?

Answer:  Yes! Every time your grad committee or high school reaches the minimum book sales goal of 3,500, you qualify to win another car. Also, there's no limit on how many cars your organization may win.  Remember, if you sell 7,200 books your profit will be $72,000.00!  

#8.)
Question: If we become eligible to WIN the car, do we need to pay for it out of the profits we made from selling the books?
Answer:  NO! If your grad committee or high school sells at least 3,500 books, you will automatically be declared WINNERS! of a brand new 2012 4-Door Black Honda Civic LX!  Your grad committee or high school will keep their earned profits of $35,000.00!

#9.)
Question: When is the deadline to participate?
Answer: The deadline for the class of 2012 to submit a contract is May 1st, 2012, with payment due by June 1st, 2012. These dates allow ample time to order the books and maybe a car, and for your grad committee or high school to conduct a successful book distribution schedule in a timely manner. However, some high schools and/or grad night committees may need to conduct their book distribution schedule after graduation festivities due to time contraints.

#10.)
Question:  Can we pick up our car sooner?

Answer:  Yes! When your grad committee or high school sends in the full payment for the books, they must request a delivery date on the order form.  This date can be anytime before the graduation date, even if it is months prior.  However, once your grad committee or high school takes possession of the car from the Honda dealership, it will be their responsibility to cover all car insurance expenses as required by law in your state or province.

#11.)
Question: Can we ask for a different car color?

Answer:  Yes! When your grad committee or high school sends in the full payment for the books, they may request a different car color on the order form.  However, the colors available will depend on the Honda dealership's inventory at the time the car is ordered. Your committee's contact person will receive a phone call from the Teen Wise Fundraising department to confirm the order and inform him/her what colors are available.  If your grad committee or high school really wants their Honda in a specific color, this can only be accomplished by submitting an order form with full payment two months prior to your requested delivery date.  This will allow ample time for your car to be custom ordered through the Honda dealership indicated on your order form.

#12.)
Question:  Since this fundraiser is done as a presale, are there any expenses we must consider?
Answer:  The only expenses your grad committee or high school may incur would be the cost for printing flyers and sign-up sheets.

#13.)
Question:  How do we advertise this fundraiser?
Answer:  After a contract is received, your grad committee or high school contact person will be sent a book cover picture and a description of the book via e-mail.  Flyers can easily be created by using these two files, along with your pertinent information.  Give these flyers and sign-up sheets to all the students and their parents to begin their fundraising campaign. Also, let them know their individual sales goal amount and deadline date.

#14.)
Question:  How long does this fundraiser take?
Answer:  After a decision is made to participate in the Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program and a contract is signed and mailed, it may take a week to get organized; create the flyers for distribution, setup a book distribution schedule, set individual student sale goals and deadline dates, etc.  It usually takes about two weeks to conduct the actual presale campaign.  Add another week to calculate the money and send in the full payment and the order form.  From start to finish, about a month depending on how quickly books are sold and money is calculated.

#15.)
Question:  How long will it take for us to get our books?
Answer:  You can expect to receive your complete book order delivered via UPS to your high school within three weeks.  The contact person on the order form will be notified of a tentative delivery date via e-mail.  You may also

e-mail twfundraising@t-wise-book.com or call #808-738-9473 to inquire about your book order.

#16.)
Question:  Isn’t $23.00 too expensive for a book?

Answer:  The presale cost of each book is set at $23.00 each, which includes tax and shipping charges.  Teen Wise: Third Edition retails for $19.95 on amazon.com, and after you add the tax and shipping costs the total is anywhere between $23.94 and $25.95, depending on delivery location. The book has 190 pages. Your grad committee or high school will pay $13.00 for each book ordered, which also includes tax and shipping charges, and will profit $10.00 per book sold.  Your grad committee or high school has the option of reducing the sale price of the books from $23.00 each, with the understanding that this will decease their profit margin.  They will still need to purchase the books at $13.00 each.

#17.)
Question:  We want to participate in this fundraiser, but we are the class of 2013.  When can we start?
Answer:  The class of 2013’s start date to begin fundraising is January 3rd, 2012 and the deadline to submit a contract to participate is May 1st, 2013.  Full payment and book order deadline is June 1st, 2013.  All the information has been updated for the class of 2013 on this website.  Please click on the pdf’s for 2013 Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program Contract and Flyer. 

The class of 2013 has the option of fundraising early in 2012, however if a car is won and delivery is requested many months before the graduation date please take note that the 2013 4-Door Honda Civic LX’s will not be available until October 2012.  If your grad committee or high school wants the car earlier than October 2012, and your minimum book sales goal has been met, you will receive a 2012 4-Door Honda Civic LX.

#18.)
Question:  What does "2,500 Cars Available" mean on the website?
Answer:   This means there are a total of 2,500 2012 4-Door Honda Civic LX’s available for the Teen Wise Honda Car Giveaway Incentive Program for the class of 2012.  This does not mean there are 2,500 left.  I took the car counter that indicated exactly how many cars were still available off the website because I didn’t want grad committees or high schools to feel pressured or hurried to make a decision and sell books. If your grad committee or high school submits a contract with a book sales goal of 3,500 books, a car will automatically be reserved in their name.  If this book sales goal is achieved, the car will be released to your grad committee or high school.  The need to RUSH is not necessary.

Not to worry, I also have the option of requesting more cars for distribution, if all 2,500 2012 cars are won.  There will be 2,500 2013 4-Door Black Honda Civic LX’s available for the class of 2013, and every graduating class thereafter.

#19.)
Question:  Why is this fundraiser program available for grad committees AND high schools? 
Answer:  The Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program is available for grad committees and high schools located in the United States and Canada because not all high school senior classes have a grad committee and graduation safe celebrations.  In an effort to include and encourage all high school seniors to participate, I extended the offer directly to all high schools as well.  High schools that don’t currently have grad night festivities scheduled can still give away a car during their senior night dinner or graduation ceremony.  The money raised may be used at their discretion.   

#20.)
Question:  How did you come up with the idea to offer a fundraiser program for graduating high school seniors?

Answer:  I attended a graduation ceremony at a high school that I teach a Teen Wise program at in May of 2010 that had a graduating class of over 600 students.  As I was searching for the graduates I wanted to greet on the field after the formal ceremony, I noticed there were no buses parked in the area.  I asked a teacher, “Where are the buses that transport the students to the project graduation celebration?”  He looked at me straight in the eyes with worry and defeat and said, “Ms. Celeste there is no project graduation for our school.”  I replied, “But there are over 600 graduates in an area that is prone for drug and alcohol usage.”  He said, “Yes, I know.”  I then said, “So, this is really not safe for anyone, the students and the community as a whole.”  I kept talking, “These teenagers are going to be drinking and driving on the roads!”  He just kept agreeing with me.  I ended the conversation with, “Well, I am going to do something about it!”  I went home and could not sleep that night, constantly thinking about what could happen.  I watched the local news diligently for the next few days, and luckily there were no car accidents or violent altercations.  I had a meeting with the same teacher and the principal in the following week to plan my program for the upcoming school year.  We also discussed the importance of keeping these students safe on graduation night.  Although no decisions or concrete plans manifested from our meeting regarding project graduation, it really got me thinking as a business owner what I could do to help this situation.  I brainstormed and came up with the two main challenges grad committees have; raising money and increasing attendance.  Then, I did research on how my company, Teen Wise, could offer its own fundraising program specifically for grad committees and high schools.  After I worked out the details and pricing for the fundraising program, I needed to come up with an incentive for seniors to sell books to earn their profits and to attend their graduation safe celebrations. Then, it came to me!  What do most seniors want for graduation?  A CAR!  I met with a few car dealerships, but I worked out a great deal with the Honda franchise that will benefit these graduating participants immensely.  There we have it!  The Teen Wise Grad Night Fundraiser Program and the Teen Wise Honda Car Giveaway Incentive Programs were emerged!  I sleep much better now through graduation season.

#21.)
Question: Why do you offer a $10,000.00 cash prize instead of the car?
Answer: I offer this as a choice for grad committees and high schools who wish to have more money to spend on their graduation safe celebration in lieu of having a car giveaway prize. A participating high school requested a cash prize as their preference, so I offered it at $10,000.00 for them and added it to the contract as an option for everyone.

Thank you for your time and interest. Happy Fundraising!

Ms. Celeste