School Fundraisers, good or evil?

I have 4 schoolage kids, and it is fundraiser season once again. My son is selling those happenings books and the other 3 have a catalog full of overpriced crap (I ordered this the past few years, so I know) that they are supposed to sell. Our PTO used the money last year to buy new playgroud equiptment, sad thing is they took out a set of swings, a tire swing and slide and put up this spider web thing instead and a balance beam. SO not being mean but the money isnt being used to benefit the kids so much. Anyway so they have that big program for the kids yesterday getting them all pysched up that if they sell 35 things (cheapest things to buy are $7 wrapping paper) they can get a ride in a limo! OMG! My 6 year old daughter was SO excited about that, I told her that we werent going to sell it this year. (3 kids X 35 =115 items!!) So she was broken hearted and cried for nearly 1/2 hour. I just dont understand why we pay taxes, donate to the PTO,and they expect the kids to sell this crap?