Ellettsville group sponsors 5K, raises money for scholarships

Students, teachers and athletes competed Saturday at the Edgewood Intermediate School for the sixth annual Dollars for Scholars 5-kilometer Run/Walk.

The event, organized by the Edgewood Dollars for Scholars chapter, collected sponsorship donations and entry fees to supply future scholarships for Edgewood High School seniors.

The Edgewood Dollars for Scholars chapter is an Ellettsville-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase scholarships available for Edgewood High School students, according to the organization’s website.

Ellettsville resident Kenny Williams has volunteered for the event for the past 18 years. Williams said the race was originally affiliated with the Quarters for Kids run until the chapter took it over to make it an annual fundraiser six years ago.

“The chapter annually gives out a little over $40,000 in scholarships,” Williams said. “Every single bit that we make here will be used for scholarships, too.”

A majority of the funds the chapter raised came from sponsorships. This year’s title sponsor was Smithville, a communications company, which Williams said has been a frequent sponsor and contributor to the chapter in the past.

Williams said the 64 participants at this year’s event was a smaller turnout than years past, but the amount of sponsorship funds is expected to still be a helpful contribution to the chapter’s goals. In years prior, Williams said the fundraiser has raised up to $6,000.

“The number of racers and walkers varies each year, but the amount of sponsorship money we receive stays consistent,” Williams said.

Many of this year’s racers were students from the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation, Ellettsville’s main school district. Likewise, teachers and faculty also participated in the event.

Edgewood Dollars for Scholars Chapter President Johnny Lindsey said an addition that’s helped draw more people out to the event is the race’s association with the Magnificent 7 Road Race Series.

The series promotes and markets the independent road races of South Central Indiana by assigning participants with points every time they compete in a series-approved race.

Lindsey said participants from Saturday’s event who are also competing in the series are eligible for the series’ championship if they complete all the required races.

Lindsey, who’s been chapter president for the past 10 years, said in addition to raising funds for scholarships the event also promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Because of the intermediate school’s location next to a vast fielded area, the event’s racecourse was able to consist of 5 kilometers for participants to walk or run at their desired pace and finish at their own time.

“Our goal here is to try and raise as much scholarship money as we can,” Lindsey said. “Everyone who participates and sponsors plays a big part in helping us continue our goals as a chapter.”

Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.