ROSS TWP. — It did not matter if Ross Elementary students hopped, skipped, ran, walked or even danced around the designated course Friday, Oct. 14.
What mattered was that the students and their families provided mailing labels with addresses of family and friends for the school’s annual Race For Education fundraiser.
The event organized by the Ross Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization is the only fundraiser of the year, said Principal Lori Bednarek.
Donations solicited through students’ family connections are used to finance field trips, educational assemblies and classroom resources, said Melissa Lukavitch, PTO secretary and event coordinator.
“Last year we raised over $8,000,” Lukavitch said. “This year I think we might pass that. We have about $7,800 in right now, and more donations are coming in.”
Lukavitch added local businesses also support the school’s fundraiser by donating money, refreshments such as water, or their time, as the case with Son of a Drifter DJ Service, who provided upbeat tunes for the children.
Bringing in addresses allowed students to earn rewards such as a pizza party, movie party or extra recess time.
Addison Brink, 7, could not remember how many addresses she brought in, but she enjoyed being outside in the sun, laughing and running with friends.
“This is fun,” Brink said. “I like it (Race For Education).”
Brink’s mother, Jessica, said her daughter brought in 12 mailing labels.
“This is an easy fundraiser for parents,” Jessica said. “It also gets their (the children’s) energy up.”
Holly Neville, mother of Bryce, a second-grader, and Braelyn, a sixth-grader, both at Ross Elementary School, agreed stating, “You don’t have to sell anything.”
“It is nice because it is the only fundraiser,” Neville said.
Nearly 250 students at Ross Elementary were given a chance to walk around the large square course located just off the playground in a grassy area.
Bednarek said Friday’s event started with kindergarten to second-grade students, who had about an hour to walk around the course.
Then, third through sixth-grade students would have a turn to navigate the course and celebrate the end of the fundraiser.