Eisenhower Elementary Color Run is slated for April 21
Eisenhower Color Run makes everything more colorful. This was from last year’s event.
by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — Thinking outside the box, Eisenhower Elementary staff members devised the Color Run to raise money for the school four years ago.
“It wasn’t really a single person who started it, it was an idea that was tossed around, said fourth grade teacher Vanessa Sawyer. “We’d heard of fun runs that were used to make money around the area and thought it be fun to put a little twist on it! We actually had no idea it would have kind of success it has had!”
Students, split up into grades K-2 and 3-5, run the course for 30 minutes. Each time they run by a corner of the course, a teacher throws a bucket of fine colored powder at them.
The reason for color run fundraising goalis that Eisenhower isn’t a Title 1 school and doesn’t get the funding that other schools do.
“It’s a really fun day,” Sawyer said. “The students start asking about the Color Run pretty early in the school year, because it is one of the best days full of excitement and just a good time! There’s a lot of memories made on those days.”
The annual event will be held the afternoon of April 21 this year, and donations are still being taken.
“People can donate whenever they would like,” Sawyer said. “We even had businesses sponsoring early in the year.”
Something new they started a couple years ago was putting business advertisement signs in front of the school on busy days to show their support and gratitude for the sponsorships.
Funds are used for everything from field trip buses to new computers to school supplies.
“We like the idea of not sending students around to sell stuff and being able to keep 100% of the profits, so this was an ideal fundraiser,” Sawyer said. “It’s our main fundraiser for the entire year. There is a lot of time and hard work put into it by a lot of people.”
Sawyer said they also have a wonderful Parent Teacher Association and parent involvement.
“We’re really fortunate to have an amazing PTA and very involved parents,” Sawyer said. “The PTA helps us out with a lot and is always willing to do anything we need them to do.”
For more information or to donate to the cause click on the color run here.
