During the month of March, we kick off The Great Academic Brain Wave, an academic version of the a jog-a-thon, in which students raise money for their schools by working in teams to answer 100-200 challenging questions from their classroom curriculum. Students seek sponsors, who pledge their support for correct answers. The Brain Wave also teaches philanthropy because each classroom adopts a nonprofit organization to receive at least 10% of the money the class raises.

Brain Wave Time Line

• SCHOOL: designs 100-200 questions from their curriculum.
• STUDENTS: adopt a local nonprofit organization to support.
• KICK-OFF RALLY: School assembly- all nonprofit representatives speak and students receive Brain Wave materials for participation.
• RECRUIT SPONSORS: Students recruit flat donations and pledged amount per question donations and study questions.
• BRAIN WAVE CHALLENGE DAY: Students answer questions in teams. One half day of school time (schools finish by noon).
• COLLECT MONEY: Students collect sponsor money or the school can bill sponsors. (Approx. two to three weeks)
• WRAP-UP CEREMONY: Non-profit organizations are invited back to receive their donation from each classroom.

Schools design questions from their curriculum: 100 questions for Kindergarten - Second Grades, 150 questions for 3rd - 5th grades, and 200 for 6th - 8th grades. A school only needs to create their questions once. From then on, you only need to update any changes to your questions.

Students in each classroom study community needs and a number of local non-profits and then vote to select the group they will support.

Brain Wave Kickoff Rally- At a school assembly, all non-profits are invited to send a representative to speak on their behalf. Students learn about every organization and are motivated to get sponsors and study hard because they realize how much their efforts will benefit the nonprofit organizations. Schools decide on what theme to make their rally: From Wizard of OZ (if I only had a Brain), Surfing Brain Wave (surfing USA), or "Who wants to be a Brain Wave Philanthropist?" (a slanted version of the Millionaire game show).

Students will have one month to sign up sponsors. They can ask their relatives, friends, neighbors, and local businesses to donate money for each question their classroom answers correctly on "Brain Wave Challenge Day." A sponsor may choose to donate per question or support participation with a flat sum. Students are encouraged to share information about their nonprofit organization and why they are raising money for their school. During this time, students are studying their questions and gearing up for the main event, "Brain Wave Challenge Day," which will take place in every classroom in every participating school.

Participating schools select the best date for a "Wrap-up" Ceremony where the students who gather the most sponsors will present a check to a representative of the nonprofit their classroom adopted. The Wrap-up Ceremony is a time where Brain Wave students see the value of their efforts. Nonprofit representatives speak on behalf of their organizations and how the students efforts will help them accomplish their goals and help those that are in need. The smiles you see on the students faces and the nonprofit representatives during this ceremony are priceless.

Where Does the Money Go?

Roughly 80% of the money collected from the Brain Wave stays with the school that raises it. 10% of the money raised is donated to the local area non-profits that your school has chosen. Schools pay an up-front enrollment fee and a small percentage of gross funds raised to participate.

Please call for a 2000-2001 Brain Wave Agreement today!!! 1-888-81-BRAIN