Events like Run Albion are a great way to bring the community together. Both in the positive experience of giving to a good cause and of showing how much you care about the city you live or work in. But when the objective has higher goals, the impact is magnified. When community leaders play an active role in revitalization by infusing donations from events like Run Albion back into local non-profits, it creates an immediate and positive impact that helps the community help themselves.
Local support with long-term benefits.
Supporting local charities who are doing good things in the community is a great way to focus on the stakeholders instrumental in ensuring the community’s long-term success. For 2018, Boy Scout Troop 158, Starr Commonwealth, and Little Lambs Ministry were chosen to receive donations because of their multi-faceted efforts to make their community better.
Local Boy Scout Troop 158 has been teaching the life skills and leadership styles consistent with the Boy Scouts of America mission since 1916 with help from their Charter Organization, the 1st United Methodist Church of Albion. “In today’s world, it is very difficult for young people under the age of 18 to seek out employment and earn their own money to pay their way,” says David Huber, Boy Scouts Scoutmaster of Troop 158. “Organizations like Run Albion that offer youth organizations a way to earn money through community service is a great benefit to our community. For our Boy Scout Troop, we are now able to have the scouts work their way to Summer Camp and participate in all of our other outdoor activities that require fees and money to participate in.”
Starr Commonwealth students have been cheering participants on during the runs this year and are planning their own run: the Wildcat Prowl in November. Proceeds from Run Albion as well as the Wildcat Prowl will go to enhance needed educational, recreational, and athletic services for all students on Star Commonwealth’s Albion campus. The Wildcat race is also a jump start on the training process for a track team and a cross country team next year. “We are now qualified to compete in the MHSAA which will give the students an opportunity to be more involved in the community,” states Ken Faulkiner, Program Director at Starr Commonwealth. “The money donated to our programs and services are success stories waiting to be told.”
Little Lambs is a ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion and another beneficiary of the donations generated by Run Albion. Always involved in the community, Little Lambs provided many volunteers to help runners get situated to run the race and cheered them on along the course all the way to the finish line. Little Lambs is always appreciative of the charitable support they receive, and these donations are vital in helping to run the daycare as well as the families that they serve. “All of the money earned through fundraising goes directly to enhance our programs and equipment upgrades for our kids,” states Jenny Woods, Assistant Director of Little Lambs. “Fundraising and donations are our lifelines to providing the best childcare we can in a Christian-based setting.”
Giving Albion what it deserves.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a conversation if the money wasn’t getting to the charities. And this is where sponsorships play such a vital role. Sponsorships cover the administrative costs and other associated costs to run a well-organized event. It also brings a high level of professionalism that make these events popular while maximizing the donations that are generated. Because of the generosity from sponsors like Caster Concepts, Oaklawn Hospital, Team Plastics, Homestead Savings Bank, Albion College, ACE Property Investments, Mitchell Golf and Around the Corner Media, the proceeds from the Run Albion races were effectively utilized by these three deserving charities.
In the end, events like Run Albion that focus on giving back to local charities are an example of how investing back into the community can positively affect the lives of people every day. With such a direct line to the community, these donations go a long way in effectively fulfilling a community’s most critical needs.
For more information on upcoming Run Albion events, email Emily Dobbins-Verbeke at: emverbeke(at)gmail.com.