Lodi Academy hosts fun run for a charitable cause
With confetti exploding over teal-clad runners, Teen Literacy was the focus at Lodi Academy Schools on Sunday as they held the seventh annual Family Fun Run benefiting the Lodi Public Library Foundation.
Hundreds of students, families and community members gathered in the cool morning air to cheer on the 275 runners completing the course. Families with young children in strollers were joined by grandparents running and walking alongside students, all showing their support for our community. Volunteers and organizers were joined this year by Lodi Academy high school students in managing the course route and offering water and encouragement to runners. Some students offered splashes of color for those who were missing the color run of last year. Students as young as 7 and 8 ran along older runners and completed every bit of the course. Their pride was evident as times were announced over the speakers at the finish line.
With booths near the starting banner covered with local sponsors, the Lodi Public Library was on hand giving out information about upcoming Teen Scene plans. Friends of the Library also had a booth selling books to add to the support. PALs members brought puppies and shared adoption information to the families that stayed after for the Lodi SDA Elementary School’s 71st annual Pet & Hobby Family Fun Festival.
“In the last few years this event has raised more than $60,000 for local support organizations including this year’s Lodi Public Library Foundation,” said Ross Sakata, a volunteer organizer of the run. “Previous beneficiaries include Grace & Mercy Food Bank, One-Eighty youth programs, One-Eighty adolescent and family services program, Lodi House and Lodi Boys and Girls Club.
“We consider it a privilege to be a part of this community and this is a way for our students to learn to give back.”
This year funds raised by Lodi Academy Schools will go to help the Foundation support the Teen Scene project and its programming focused on teen literacy. The Lodi Public Library Foundation is run by local volunteers whose sole purpose is to expand and support the programs and services offered to our community through the Library.
This year they have taken on an education-focused project to expand the services offered to our local teens as an alternative to other after school activities. The Teen Scene resource center will focus on teen literacy, homework help, ACT/SAT exam prep, and offer access to a cable channel broadcast and audiovisual production studio.