Lights were flashing, the music was loud and the students at Willow School got to run around the gym Nov. 22 raising money for the District 153 PTA. At last count, more than $28,000 was donated.
Glow Run, put on by the Booster company, was a new activity this year. Lisa Opiola, fundraising chairperson for the PTA, said the team decided to try Glow Run to raise funds as students would for a traditional walkathon. Every student from preschoolers through second grade got their chance to participate. Each class got 30 minutes to run in the gym, Opiola said.
For nearly three weeks before Glow Run, students were collecting pledges. Donations were per lap run or a flat donation. Opiola said the goal was $10,000, so raising more than $28,000 was a wonderful surprise.
Students have been following pledges from across the country. Opiola said donations had come in from 40 of the 50 states. “The kids have loved tracking the map,” she said.
Each of the 600 students got a specially designed T-shirt for Glow Run thanks to sponsors Bergstein’s Deli, Balagio Ristorante, Stoney Point Grill, Woori Taekwando & Hapkido Academy, DeJunk It, Lisa Savant Investment Advisers, Angelo Tzinares State Farm Agency, and Baker Tilly advisory, tax and assurance provider.
