One of the most anticipated weekends at Indiana University is Little 500 weekend, when students, faculty and Bloomington residents come together to celebrate a campus tradition that dates back to 1951.
But the cyclists aren’t the only ones who keep the weekend moving. The IU Student Foundation plays a central role in organizing and supporting Little 500 festivities.
IUSF, the student arm of the IU Foundation, was founded in 1950 by former IU Foundation President Howard S. “Howdy” Wilcox Jr.
A year later after IUSF’s founding, Wilcox came up with the idea for a bicycle race after seeing students race outside a dorm and viewed it as a way to generate support for the foundation. He modeled Little 500 after the Indianapolis 500 as a tribute to his father, Howard Wilcox Sr., who won the race in 1919.
This year marks the 75th running of the men’s Little 500 race. The women’s race started 1988.
IUSF’s mission is to give students the opportunity to help generate private support for the university and make the campus a better place by hosting an array of events throughout the semester, including concerts and leadership events. One of its main responsibilities each year, however, is organizing Little 500.
The process of putting the event together begins months in advance and requires many spokes to keep the wheel turning, from Little 500 riders to general members, captains and the steering committee.
Emily Carrico, IUSF director, said she is involved in many parts of organizing the event, particularly on the administrative side. Her work includes supporting student leaders, communicating with alumni, managing sponsor relations and handling other operational tasks, as well as working with the 75th committee, which was established to celebrate the race’s 75th running. The committee has helped decide on decor, arrange parade cars from different years, secure VIPs for the event, plan alumni interactions and design merchandise.
“As director, I help with a lot of our donors and sponsors and with supporting our students to make sure they are ready,” Carrico said.
IUSF’s pre-race operations help set up the stadium by making sure teams have the correct pit boards, the pits are in place and the video board is ready.
The race itself began in 1951 to raise scholarship funds for IU students, a purpose it served through 2023.
Now, Little 500 supports the Students Helping Students campaign, in which IUSF students select and help carry out a campus initiative they believe needs attention and affects their peers.
The campaign runs from qualifications through race weekend. During that time, students host more than 20 partnership events, including food drives, craft nights and more. The campaign is also funded through ticket sales, teams and donors.
In the past, the funds have supported initiatives such as the food insecurity fund, purchasing a vehicle for the Crimson Cupboard, furnishing the Wellness House and supporting satellite Counseling and Psychological Services locations on campus. This year, IUSF is raising money for the Office of Basic Needs, which helps provide IU students with access to essentials such as housing, food, transportation and health care.
Carrico said IUSF’s impact is what makes Little 500 more than just a race weekend. She said she wants Little 500 to be not only an enjoyable weekend for students and the greater Bloomington community, but also an event that has a significant impact on IU Bloomington's campus.
“I hope people understand that the race is so much more than two days in April, and that the impact our students have goes far beyond being on that track or helping set up for race day,” Carrico said.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's spring 2026 Little 500 Guide.
