Before the school year ended, Assumption Academy hosted its first-ever “Fun Run” with a primary objective to raise funds required to launch a highly anticipated playground project. The premier Fun Run was designed to be a layer of programming within Assumption Academy’s annual Field Day for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In total, an estimated 170 students participated in the event. The Fun Run was powered by Boosterthon, and the larger campaign encompassing the running event also aimed to integrate fitness, leadership and character building.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade completed the first Fun Run, a 35-lap track equivalent to the distance of 2 miles. Students in sixth through eighth grade completed the same course, this time enhanced with a “color run” theme that involved teachers, parent volunteers, and Boosterthon staff spraying runners with a mixture of cornstarch and food coloring as they completed each lap until the students were, much to their delight, covered head to toe in a rainbow of hues.
“The positive energy from the kids, teachers, parent volunteers, and Boosterthon staff during Fun Run was incredible and more than I could’ve imagined,” Principal Joanne LoPresti said. “Everyone was dancing, the older students were cheering on the younger students, and it really brought everyone together in a new and special way. We’ve received such positive feedback about this event and we’re so excited to build on that next year.”
Fifty-five percent of proceeds generated was the result of student fundraising while 45 percent was garnered from sponsorships. Area businesses supporting the event included Accurate Refrigeration, Advance Door Systems, Andy’s Auto Body, Augie’s Pizza, Broadview Eye Center, Catan’s Fashion, Cozumel Mexican Restaurant, Eye Care for Animals, Fitness Together, Giant Eagle, Knights of Columbus, and Lightning Event Management.
The $13,000 raised will be combined with dollars previously earmarked for the playground initiative to complete the design phase, kick off the project, and debut a new playground space in time for the 2018-19 school year. Future fundraising efforts may support additional phases to expand on the playground project over the course of 1-3 years.
“We’re committed to providing a well-rounded, meaningful experience at Assumption Academy,” LoPresti says. “That not only means a high-quality curriculum, but also an enriching and playful environment that encourages imagination, wellness and, quite simply, fun. We’re excited to introduce the amenity, knowing it will benefit our youngest students as well as our older children.”
— Story and photos submitted by Assumption Academy