Tuition Reduction Incentive Plan (T.R.I.P.)

What’s TRIP you ask?
TRIP stands for Tuition Reduction Incentive Program. This program is also known to some as SCRIP. It is a gift card fundraising program that is free to participate in and can raise thousands of dollars for our school and parish!

Sounds great! How does it work?
You purchase gift cards through St. Christopher. You pay, for example, $100 and receive a $100 gift card at one of the many retailers. The retailer offers a discount percentage to purchase the card which is split between the school and the participating family.

So how do we make money?
St. Christopher has partnered with the Raiseright Scrip Fundraising (www.raiseright.com) who acts on behalf of churches, schools and other non-profit organizations to purchase large amounts of gift cards from grocery stores, department stores, and other retailers. Because the gift cards are purchased with cash up front, the participating retailers offer a substantial discount. Our organization buys the gift card from The Raiseright Scrip Fundraising at a discount, and re-sells the certificates to families like yours for full face value. The discount, ranging from 30% to 2% , is our organization’s revenue.

Count me in! How do I place an order?
Orders can be done online at Raiseright Scrip Fundraising (www.raiseright.com) with gift cards sent to their home or sent online ecards. Orders at also be done by sending an order form to the office on Monday, and the cards will be delivered on Thursday. If you have a student in school, gift cards will be sent home with your student if you choose to do so. Otherwise, gift cards can be picked up at the School Office after 2pm on Thursday.

If you have any order related questions please contact Patty Powers in the School Office at 708-385-8776.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in TRIP?
Any one! If you have a student enrolled in the school or in religious education, half of the rebate will be applied to that family’s tuition.

What if I don’t have a child enrolled in the school or in religious education?
You can still participate in the fundraiser with 100% of the rebate being given to the school. If you know a student/family of a student you can have half the credit applied to their account. Just be sure to mention the family name on the order form.

Can I give out the gift cards as gifts to others?
Yes, you can! In fact we encourage you to purchase all your gift cards through TRIP! You can shop for a wide variety of gift cards from Babies R Us to The Home Depot to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Gift cards are great for birthday gifts and stocking stuffers.

What happens if I don’t use the card right away?
Most cards do not have an expiration date, so they can be used at any future date.

How do I know when there will be TRIP orders?
The school calendar states when TRIP orders will be placed each month. The calendar is sent home in the parent folder and is posted online at www.stchrisschool.org/ParentLinks/Calendar The Parish Bulletin also posts when TRIP orders are due.

Can I use a credit card to pay for TRIP orders?
No. You can pay by either check or cash dropped off at the parish office.

Will there still be Cash and Carry?
Yes, we still have popular gift cards on hand at the parish office for those quick last minute purchases including, Berkots, Visa Gift Cards, Kenootz, Kohls, Speedway Gas, Walmart, and Target to name a few.