The Tuition Reduction
Incentive Program (T.R.I.P.)
An Easy Way to Reduce Your Christian
School Tuition
The Tuition Reduction
Incentive Program (TRIP) of The Grand
Rapids Christian Schools is an easy way
to reduce tuition costs. In fact, it's
so easy - and so effective - that many
parents wonder why they didn't use it
sooner!
Families who use TRIP can potentially reduce their
tuition by hundreds of dollars each year. All current
and future Grand Rapids Christian School families,
regardless of income, are eligible to participate in
TRIP.
What is TRIP and how does it work?
TRIP enables parents to reduce their tuition
by purchasing gift certificates - at
no additional cost - for goods and services
that they buy every day.
Parents buy the gift certificates at face
value from TRIP in increments ranging
from $5 to $100. As parents buy the certificates,
a percentage of their purchase is credited
to their family's TRIP account. The percentage
varies depending on the business, but
ranges from 2% to 20%. Twice a year, the
accumulated credits in their TRIP account
are applied to their tuition account.
A wide variety of businesses participate
in TRIP, the gift certificates can be
used like cash for goods and services
that parents purchase regularly (groceries,
gas, clothing, etc.). A complete list
of participating businesses and the percentages
of credit that they offer are available
on line at www.grtrip.org.
For example, if a family normally spends
$500 a month at Family Fare, they can
purchase $500 in Family Fare gift cards
from TRIP and receive a 3% TRIP credit
($15). Over a year, they would accumulate
$180 in TRIP credits which could be deducted
directly from their Grand Rapids Christian
School tuition.
Who can participate?
Anyone can participate in TRIP and help
reduce a family's tuition! Grandparents,
aunts and uncles, church members, and
friends can enroll in TRIP and designate
their credits to go to a specific family's
tuition account. Or, they can disburse
them to The Grand Rapids Christian Schools
for application to the Tuition Assistance
Fund, which assists many families.
Families who are planning to eventually
enroll their children - even children
not yet born - in The Grand Rapids Christian
Schools can also participate in TRIP.
Their TRIP credits will be held until
they want them applied to a tuition account
within The Grand Rapids Christian Schools
system.
How do I enroll?
Enrolling in TRIP is easy! Simply fill
out a registration form which is available
on line. Return your
completed registration form to the TRIP office at 2550
Eastern Ave SE (enrollment forms can be faxed to 616-248-0351).
Upon receipt of your application, your family will
be assigned a TRIP account number. Use this number
each time you purchase TRIP certificates.
How do I purchase TRIP certificates?
Certificates can be purchased at one of
our Instant TRIP locations. At
Instant TRIP we have a large amount of
certificates on hand and can be purchased
on a cash and carry basis. Instant
TRIP is available at 2550 Eastern Ave
SE and is open on Mondays from 12-5 and
Wednesdays from 9-12, at Creston Christian
on Mondays from 8:30-9:30, and Rockford
Christian on Tuesdays from 8:30-10:30. Schedules
may vary during the summer months.
Orders can also be placed at one of our
Instant locations for certificates that
are not available at Instant TRIP.
Our
complete list of vendors is on our
website.
How are TRIP credits applied to my tuition
account?
In December and May, TRIP families receive
a statement from TRIP that summarizes
the total dollar amount of their TRIP
credits. The Grand Rapids Christian Schools
business office also receives a statement
of their TRIP account, indicating the
amount of tuition credits that are available
to apply to their tuition account.
VIP Certificates (Vendors In Partnership)
and TRIP Vouchers
The TRIP Committee also offers two additional
programs, Vendors in Partnership (VIP)
Certificates and TRIP Vouchers, which
also can reduce tuition.
The VIP Certificate is a "generic" gift
certificate created by the TRIP Committee.
It is available in $5 and $25 amounts.
The VIP certificates can be used at a
wide variety of businesses that have agreed
to accept them. They earn 4% in TRIP credits.
Businesses that honor TRIP Vouchers will
credit a percentage of a family's purchase
to their TRIP account. The percentages
vary depending on the business. To obtain
the credit, families must present a preprinted
TRIP Voucher to the business at the time
of the purchase. The participating business
sends the credit to the TRIP Committee
for application to the family's TRIP account.
TRIP Vouchers are available at no charge
from the TRIP office.
Our
complete list of vendors is on our
website.
If you have any questions
or would like more information about
T.R.I.P, please call the T.R.I.P. office
at 616-574-6347 or visit the
T.R.I.P. website at www.grtrip.org.
SUMMER TRIP INFO
|
