Voted “Park City’s Favorite Fundraiser and Sporting Event” seven years in a row, Running With Ed (RWE) is a relay-race fundraiser that benefits the amazing work of the Park City Education Foundation. PCEF’s been supporting Park City’s teachers, students and schools since 1986, and RWE is a fun and healthy way to contribute to their efforts, so I’m proud to once again co-chair the event on May 22, this year with parent volunteer extraordinaire and real estate wingwoman, Annie Cashiola.
Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation
The success of this year’s RWE is more critical than ever, as last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. Which meant the Foundation lost critical fundraising dollars they were counting on from the event just as they were stepping up to provide expanded community support for those affected by COVID-19. That support took the form of basic needs assistance, an Educator Wellness Initiative and Emergency Express Grants – all areas of focus that demonstrated the ability of this beloved nonprofit to pivot on a dime.
The seeming frivolity of RWE (did I mention the costumes?) belies the impact it’s had on our schools over the past decade, raising $2-million for PCEF programs, including STEM project materials, teacher grants, college prep materials for at-risk students, afterschool programs, art supplies and reading materials. It’s frequently noted that Utah consistently places dead last in the nation for class size, teacher salaries and per-pupil spending, so the Park City School District relies on the programs provided at no cost by PCEF to help keep our kids competitive with their peers in other states.
What makes RWE unique is the way the fundraiser rewards individual school communities for their participation in the form of $5,000, $3,000 or $2,000 school grants, sponsored by Park City Mountain/EpicPromise (every school with 50% or greater participation receives a $1,000 grant).
Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation
Because of the pandemic, a new course had to be mapped out, with a few changes to help mitigate any health or safety concerns, including no single designated start and finish line. Instead, captains will select which of the six legs to start with, and runners will all begin running at the exact same time, based on their assigned start time. This year’s course is designed to focus solely on each of the District’s seven schools, and is as follows:
Leg 1 – 1.63 Miles – Jeremy Ranch Elementary to Ecker Hill Middle School
Leg 2 – 4.66 Miles – Ecker Hill Middle School to Parley’s Park Elementary
Leg 3 – 4.49 Miles – Parley’s Park Elementary to McPolin Elementary
Leg 4 – 1.22 Miles – McPolin Elementary to Treasure Mountain Jr High
Leg 5 – 4.28 Miles – Treasure Mountain Jr High to Trailside Elementary
Leg 6 – 5.22 Miles – Trailside Elementary to Jeremy Ranch Elementary
You can also click here for an interactive course map.
Registration from now through May 7 is $125, with Last Chance Registration kicking in May 8 – 14, so don’t delay! And you can pay it forward by scholar-shipping a student or teacher by contributing an additional $50 at check-out. Teacher and student registration is just $50 through May 14.
This year’s RWE Race Kit includes some pretty sweet swag!Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation
To register, please click here, and reach out to me if you have any questions – I’m here to help!
If you want to participate, but don’t have the time to run or volunteer, you can donate to one of the many teams by clicking here (and if you’re feeling it, please choose my fundraiser under “Christine Grenney” – I’d be much obliged …). You can also click here if you’d prefer to directly support PCEF’s efforts by donating to a Classroom Grant ($2,500); Express Grant ($1,000); Preschool, Elementary Art & Afterschool ($500); PCCAPS, Bright Futures or STEM ($250); or to Support our Students, Teachers & Schools ($50).
However you choose to support RWE, whether by cheering on runners you see in the street, joining a team or making a donation, the support for nonprofits like PCEF is one of the many reasons so many Choose Park City as their current or future home. You can connect with Christine today at 435-640-4238 to learn more about the amazing place where so many parents have decided to raise their children!