On Saturday, March 22, Tenafly High School’s marching band hosted a special fundraiser that went beyond the usual bake sale or car wash: a mattress sale. This one-day event was organized in collaboration with Custom Fundraising Solutions (CFS), a company known for offering creative fundraising opportunities for school groups like the marching band. The goal of the sale was to raise money after the marching band’s funding for the 2025-2026 school year was significantly reduced. With this mattress sale, the band aimed to provide a practical and fun way for people to support their cause.
The mattress sale was open to the entire community, with products ranging from high-quality mattresses to bean bags, protectors, and even sheets. The main gym was transformed to look just like a mattress store, with rows of mattresses arranged neatly and designated sections for bean bags, mattress protectors, and more. Visitors were encouraged to browse, try out the mattresses, and make purchases directly on-site. This sale was completely open to the public, and the bandmates worked hard to spread the word, advertising throughout the day in busy locations like Stop and Shop, Knickerbocker Road, and outside the high school.
Senior Maia Goldman, who was a drum major for THS’ last marching band season, was thrilled to help advertise their efforts and gain support for the fundraiser: “We thought that this would be a sale that would allow people to purchase an item that would be of use to them and more practical rather than something less functional, like a bag of popcorn.”
A special discount was available for certain groups, including Tenafly High School faculty and staff, police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and anyone who has served or is currently serving in the military. This added incentive encouraged even more community members to participate in the sale.
Although the mattress sale was conducted entirely in person, with no online sales or pop-up events, there was a special offer: customers received a 10% discount on their mattress purchase that day. This reduced price was a big draw for those looking for great deals on top-quality products.
The mattress sale raised an impressive $4,200, which will go directly to supporting the marching band’s future activities and needs. Organizing this fundraiser allowed the band members to not only raise much-needed funds but also engage with the community in a meaningful way. While the event was a one-day occurrence, the success of this sale makes it likely that similar fundraisers could be held in the future.
The mattress sale was a success thanks to the support of the community and the efforts of the Tenafly High School marching band. The funds will help sustain the band’s activities in the coming school year. In the future, the band might hold similar events to continue its fundraising efforts, as this creative approach to raising money proved to be both practical and effective.
