04/30/13 Students at Jefferson Elementary School raised over $10,000 with the Jogging For Jefferson event held last Thursday in Centennial Park.
The Jefferson Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) decided to tackle two issues with the event. Raising money to help in funding portable Smart Boards for the classrooms, purchasing classroom resources and getting the gymnasium painted were on the list but more than that, getting the kids moving.
Kelly Filson, Co-chair for the event said childhood obesity is nearing epidemic proportions. With the fundraiser, all children grades kindergarten through fourth grade walked a half mile circuit and with each lap got a punch on their card.
Instead of sending home catalogs and having family, friend and neighbors purchase items that people don’t really need anyway the fundraiser was set up for kids to get pledges for their walk or jogging. People seem to be more receptive to the idea of just donating funds with 100% go directly to the school .
Jogging for Jefferson was a huge success in part thanks to their many sponsors; the Plymouth Park Department, Papa John’s Pizza, First Source Bank, Laurie Sutter’s State Farm Insurance, and Oliver Ford Lincoln.
Each child receive a water bottle as a thank-you for their hard work.
