Regardless of whether your kids attend public, private or parochial, chances are their school is always looking for ways to raise much-needed funds to pay for enriching extras. Parents are often called upon to give money. But there are also lots of fun and easy ways for families to get involved in the fundraising process that involve donating your time and creativity, not your cold hard cash.

A few years back, I wrote a post featuring 7 successful large-scale fundraising projects I helped oversee at my son's school when I was PTA president. Today I'm sharing 9 simple fundraising ideas that can be implemented relatively quickly. In fact, inspired PTAs could get a couple of these off the ground before spring break arrives! You may have heard of some of these before (hello, bake sale) but I've included tips for ways to maximize profits and enjoyment.

Westfield, NJ is a Union County town that brings together small-town charm and metropolitan appeal. The downtown area is home to well-known retailers, trendy boutiques and an abundance of restaurants, from fine dining to casual eateries. Westfield is a family oriented community, and there’s no shortage of family restaurants to choose from. With popular chains as well as neighborhood establishments, there’s always something to satisfy hungry little ones. Here’s a taste of the many kid friendly dining options in Westfield.

White, the latest family-friendly production at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, is sweet, funny, and an excellent introduction to the theater for young ones. Simple but smart, the award-winning White captivates young audiences without speaking down to them.

A few short weeks ago my husband and I motivated to take our kids into New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Many hours later (as well as many toll roads, parking fees, and bathroom stops later), my 4 year old informed me that she preferred the artwork in her Olivia the Pig book to the John Singer Sargent exhibit we just viewed.  Why, oh why did I spend so much money on taking them to a fabulous NY museum when there are so many phenomenal museums in our own backyard here in Fairfield County?  Our next museum adventures will be within a 20 mile radius of home – and just look how many great exhibits there are in the local area! And don't forget to check out our Kid-Friendly CT Museum Guide too!

Located in the center of NJ, Ocean Grove brings small town living to the Jersey Shore. At just one square mile, it's a family friendly town that offers relief from the crowds, noise and commercialism that can be found at other beaches. With its gingerbread cottages and quaint main street, Ocean Grove has a 1950's feel that makes it a great destination for families year round. For information on great small towns in North Jersey, check out our posts on Millburn, Nutley and Chester.

Get out your family calendar: This week has been about planning ahead across all of our sites. Our carefully curated March Go Lists are up for NYC, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester and beyond so you can find out the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month.

If you're looking ahead to summer, we continued our overhaul of our Camp Guide by updating our free and cheap camps post, and highlighting all of the improvements to our Camp Directory, including the ability to leave reviews and ratings for the programs you love.

And if spring break is on your mind (it's coming up this month for private school students and in April for public school kids), you can find destination inspiration on our Travel site, in our NYC Family Getaways Guide and on all of our regional sites. Connecticut just wrote a post about the awesome Catamount Aerial Adventure Park and Rockwell Museum in Great Barrington, MA, Westchester has a list of the best things to do with kids in Mount Kisco and New Jersey has a wonderful series on great small towns worth discovering.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead this weekend. Daylight Savings begins on Sunday and that means "longer days" to get out and enjoy all the festivities Westchester has to offer. This weekend also kicks off the St. Patrick’s Day Parade season. Enjoy parades in White Plains and Mount Kisco plus the Northern Westchester Putnam Parade in Mahopac.

It’s also sugaring season, when the warming daytime temperatures stimulate the sap to flow and there are several sugaring events to choose from this weekend. Head to Sugarfest at Westmoreland Sanctuary where you can enjoy the Nannyhagen Creek Band during a pancake breakfast. Or stop by for an informal sugarhouse chat at the Trailside Nature Museum. Muscoot Farm is also joining in on the sugaring fun, Teatown’s naturalists share facts and folklore about this sweet time of year and the Greenburgh Nature Center hosts a Maple Sugaring Party.

This weekend is also the grand opening of the Hudson River Museum’s new state of the art, digital Planetarium. Read on for our top weekend picks. If you see something that piques your interest, click through to the event listing to view full details. Looking for more options? Be sure to check our Event Calendar for more fun happening this weekend and beyond. Also be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletter to get the latest on news and events in Westchester delivered right to your inbox.