More than 400 people laced up and put their tread to the pavement last Saturday morning at the Quail Valley River Club as participants in the annual Quail Valley Charities Kids 1-Mile Fun Run & 5K Walk/Run.
This year the committee invited participants from the beneficiary organizations to bring teams and participate in the run, said Wanda Lincoln, Quail Valley Charities chair.
“Since the very beginning, we’ve always asked them to have some skin in the game. Whether it’s volunteering, participating in the race, or selling raffle tickets. What we hope is that it forms a relationship,” she added.
“Having kids participate in the run is so important because it gives them the chance to meet the people that make what we do possible,” agreed Phil Barnes, Youth Guidance executive director, who said that QVC support was vital.
“They help fund our vocational training, life skills and recreational activities like this, that get the kids moving. We’ve been very fortunate to receive that support each year. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do for the kids.”
Crossover Mission executive director, Cathy De Schouwer, called QVC’s support of their student athletes transformational.
“Quail Valley Charities funds a portion of our summer program. They pay for our kids to go to basketball camps at universities. Part of our vision is for the kids to see education in their future,” she added, explaining that many of their students had never considered college a possibility.
“These experiences allow our kids to get a real taste of what it’s like to be in college,” said De Schouwer.
Quail Valley Charities was established to help fund local nonprofits whose focus was on children and education. Now, in their 20th year, Kevin Given, Quail Valley managing partner, says they’ve grown the event from a two-day golf tournament to a monthlong affair.
In addition to the 5K and golf tournament, which continues, January events include Mahjong, bridge, tennis, a tower shoot, wine dinners and a special luncheon.
Quail Valley Charities has donated over $9.3 million to selected local nonprofits. This year, said Given, “our goal is to raise $750,000. It will put us over the $10 million mark.”
Even amid the pandemic, “our members’ generosity is amazing,” said Given, adding that members have continued to “step up with their generosity.
Even though the events may not be at full capacity due to COVID concerns and restrictions, the numbers that we’ve raised continue to exceed our expectations. The needs are still there.
These are the folks that are living and breathing it 365 days a year.”
“Last year, we did this virtually,” explained Anne Patrick, race organizer and director of the Quail Valley Fitness Center & Spa. “It’s great to have people out here running again.”
After the fun run, the youngsters got rid of whatever extra energy they had left in the tank in the Kids Zone, which featured a bounce house, bungee trampoline and rock climbing, among other fun amusements.
Photos by Kaila Jones
