Independent Catholic School that started as a community fought a school closing has found an innovative way to raise funds while saving their supporters money.

Apostle Academy, an independent private school, teaching in the Catholic tradition opened in September of 2003 when St. Philip the Apostle School closed their doors after 39 years. The founders of the Academy are striving to keep Catholic education available on the island of Brigantine. Apostle Academy is pleased to announce that they now offer an innovative way for family and friends of Apostle Academy and its predecessor, St. Philip the Apostle School and the alumni of St. Philip’s to support the Academy while saving money!

That’s right. This is not just another fundraising campaign. No telethons or silent auctions here. In these challenging economic times Apostle Academy has found a way to raise money when their supporters save money. They have even found a way to raise money when their local merchants earn money! How did they do it?

They joined forces with Consumer FIRST. A national consumer marketing and financial services organization where supporters can register their existing Visa or MasterCard for free, keep all the perks like hotel points or airline miles that they have now, and begin to receive cash back when they do business with Consumer FIRST Merchants. Every time a consumer saves money a royalty is paid to Apostle Academy.

Even better, it is free for Apostle Academy to become an Affinity Group with Consumer FIRST. They can even refer merchants who wish to support Apostle Academy who can also become Consumer FIRST Merchants at no cost and benefit by having both new and repeat customers who are loyal to Consumer FIRST Merchants because they know they are saving money and helping Apostle Academy at the same time!

How does it work? Instead of up front marketing or advertising dollars, merchants agree to a small marketing fee only after doing business with a Consumer FIRST cardholder. It is a pay for performance method of promoting their business at no risk with results that are easier to track than your typical advertising promotion. A portion of the marketing fee is returned to the cardholder on their credit card statement, reminding them of where they receive their cash back, as a way of creating loyalty between the consumer and the merchant. Another portion of the marketing fee goes to Apostle Academy because the card members have registered their cards in support of the Affinity Group Apostle Academy.

For more information please visit http://www.consumer1st.com/234605/ or contact the Academy at 609-266-7200 or Joe Cabrey at 609-266-5044 or email JoeCabrey@ConsumerFirst.bz