Family travel is usually about getting everyone packed, out the door, and hopefully still smiling by takeoff. Fundraisers rarely enter the conversation.
But for one family, a simple shift in how they booked their trip turned an ordinary vacation into something that quietly strengthened their school community. Same hotel. Same flights. Same budget. Just a smarter choice that made doing good almost effortless.
Just Another School Fundraiser Email
Most parents skim past PTO emails without a second thought. Between work deadlines and soccer practice, there’s only so much room for another wrapping-paper sale.
But one message stood out: “Book your family trips through Gladly Travel. School gets 3% back. Same prices as anywhere else.”
It almost got deleted too—until the parent paused.
Their family had a Disney trip coming up. A work conference in Chicago. A milestone birthday in Seattle.
“Same prices as anywhere else” lingered a little longer than usual.
Checking It Out
That night, after the kids were asleep, the parent opened Gladly Travel and compared it to the booking sites they usually relied on
Same Marriott for David’s conference. Same flight options to Seattle. Same Disney packages they had been tracking for weeks.
The only difference appeared at checkout: a small note that read, “This booking generates a donation for your school.”
It was simple, but it stood out. Nothing else about the process changed — the same hotel, the same total, and the same confirmation email. The parent realized the booking they were already planning to make could now support their school without adding steps, costs, or extra decisions.
The First Booking
They tested it with the Chicago hotel. The company reimbursed the stay the same way it always did, and the confirmation looked no different from any other booking.
A couple of weeks later, a PTO volunteer casually mentioned that the contribution had come through for the playground fund.
That was it. No announcements, no special recognition — just a small, automatic boost to something the family already cared about.
It Became a Habit
The family started using Gladly Travel for everything: the spring soccer tournament in Austin, a rental car for a beach weekend, and flights to visit relatives. The amounts weren’t big — $18 here, $42 there — but the parent began noticing small changes in the PTO updates: new library books, repaired basketball hoops, progress on the playground.
Their everyday travel was quietly helping move things forward.
The Playground Opening
By October, the new playground equipment was finally installed. One of the parents watched their child run straight to the monkey bars they’d been looking forward to for months.
Another parent nearby mentioned how hard it was to keep up with constant fundraisers. It was a familiar feeling, and an easy moment to share what had been working for their own family — booking travel through Gladly Travel and letting the donations add up in the background.
It wasn’t a big solution or a major change. It was simply a practical way to support the school through trips they were already taking.”
What Changed (And What Didn’t)
The family still takes the same trips, follows the same budget, and chooses destinations around school schedules and available vacation days. But their perspective on travel shifted. It wasn’t just about getting away anymore — those small percentages were turning into something meaningful for their community.
Their kids understood that the Disney trip helped pay for playground equipment, and they brought it up when friends talked about fundraisers. Supporting the school became a natural part of their routine, not a big gesture — just the steady impact of everyday choices.
They Didn’t Just Make Memories—They Made a Difference
Recently, the parent booked their family’s holiday flights. At checkout, the familiar note appeared: “This booking generates a donation for your school.”
They confirmed the trip knowing it would quietly support a place that mattered to them.
No pressure to join every fundraiser. No extra steps. Just the reassurance that their regular travel choices were helping the school grow, one booking at a time.
Purpose doesn’t always come from big actions. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as how you plan your next trip. Discover how your family’s travel can support your school through Gladly Travel.
