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The Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation’s 11th annual Run for Education is returning to the Alameda County Fairgrounds later this month with a revamped kids course and more family-friendly activities than last year’s run.
“I’m super excited for our kids area,” PPIE Executive Director Andrea Wilson told the Weekly. “Last year, with our first year out of COVID, we didn’t get a chance to beef it up as much as we wanted to. So this year, it’s going to be really fun and really engaging for our kids.”
PPIE’s signature fundraising event, which is being sponsored by Workday, is typically a popular one among families and residents, will be held next Sunday (April 30) starting at 7:50 a.m. with the 10K. The 5K run will then start at 8 a.m. along with a brand-new 2-mile run.
All of the runs will begin and end at the fairgrounds at separate, mutual finish lines. Food and goodies will be provided by Lucky.
Wilson said that apart from the runs, PNC Bank will be sponsoring a quarter-mile kids race within the fairgrounds designed for ages three to 10 that will start at 9:15 a.m.
The run, which first started in 2012, is the foundation’s main community fundraiser, and according to Wilson, typically brings in over 2,500 walkers and runners. According to PPIE’s website, last year’s run — which was the first one in person since the pandemic — raised over $100,000 for Pleasanton Unified School District schools.
“It is our largest fundraiser of the year. And it raises the money to support the work that we do with all 15 of our PUSD schools,” Wilson said. “We do a lot of school site specific events, but this is the only one that kind of brings the whole school community and the greater Pleasanton community together to really support our school district and celebrate the great work that we do.”
To date, the event has raised over $1 million, according to the website.
And while PPIE will also be offering a virtual race for those who want the option, Wilson said that she is excited that COVID restrictions and overall fears are much lower compared to last year.
“I think last year, we wanted to be back in person and there was still a lot of talk … like do they wear masks or, you know, how do we handle all this,” Wilson said. “But this year, I think … people have, in a sense, put it behind them and are really ready to get back out and just be together.”
She said that they are also already trending to have more participants than last year’s run.
“I think that we are going to exceed our numbers from last year,” Wilson said. “It’s going to be a super fun morning and I’m really excited.”
After the run, there will be a carnival-style portion of the event where there will be vendor booths, an award ceremony, music and refreshments.
Prior to the run, participants will have to pick up their run packets, their bibs with their numbers, T-shirts and goodie bags at Amador Valley High School the day before, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29.
For parking, participants can pay the $15 fee beforehand so entry goes smoother or they can also pay the fee at the fairgrounds entrance, however Wilson said cash or Apple Pay will not be accepted — only credit or debit card. To learn more, visit ppie.org.
