San Lorenzo Valley High softball coach and local business owner Mark Brown has developed an idea to spur fundraising for San Lorenzo Valley youth and sports programs that also helps local business.
He’s calling it the Cougar Card.
The card, which costs $20, will be sold starting in January to local residents as a sort of digital coupon book. Merchants can sign up free of charge and offer deals and discounts that cardholders can redeem.
“One of the things is that it’s different than a normal fundraiser,” Brown said. “It’s a win-win. It really tries to give the business something to benefit from it.”
Brown’s vision is that people will buy the cards and then present them to valley merchants for a deal. For example, Coffee Nine in Ben Lomond has already signed up to offer a half-price sandwich with the purchase of a sandwich at full price to cardholders, and Coastal Computer Repair in Boulder Creek will offer a 10 percent discount with the card.
Brown is working on the card’s logistics with SLV High athletic director Marcus Northcutt. Brown, whose Boulder Creek Internet business iHwy develops apps for the Internet, iPads and smart phones, has launched a website, www.cougarcard.org, where businesses can sign up for the free service and people can preorder the card.
“Everyone I have talked to has been really positive about it,” Brown said. “But I’m just starting to get the word out.”
Brown said his company does not stand to make any money, and he’s donating his time to run the site because he understands that kids’ groups are all looking to raise cash.
The fundraising aspect is simple.
Youth and sports programs will receive cash from the sales of each card. Of the $20 price, the first $10 goes to the organization that sells the card, $2 goes to Cougar Card printing and advertising, and the remainder goes to San Lorenzo Valley High School athletics.
Brown asks participating businesses to keep their discounts and deals active for at least several months. If the venture is successful in 2011, he and Northcutt hope to continue it annually.
“If we do it right, I think it will work really well,” Northcutt said.
At a glance
What: The Cougar Card, a local discount card to benefit SLV youth and sports groups.
When: Starting in January
Cost: $20
Info: www.cougarcard.org or www.facebook.com/cougarcard
