Builtwell Bank raises $32,800 for Communities in Schools
Builtwell Bank in Ringgold has been sponsoring a 5K race and one-mile walk — GradURun — for 26 years to raise money for Communities in Schools, a dropout prevention program aimed at helping at-risk students achieve success in school and life.
This year, said Builtwell Assistant Vice President René Tinker, “We had more participants than ever registered and we raised more money than ever.”
GradURun boasted 231 participants on March 16 this year — 132 runners and 99 walkers — who took a route starting at the bank on the corner of Alabama Highway and Robin Road, roving throughout Ringgold, and ending back at the bank.
The result of this was $32,800 raised for Communities in Schools, as well as some happy winners and a bunch of well-exercised people. The overall male winner of the race was Andrew
O’Neill; the overall female winner was Sarah Norman. The race was certified and timed, as it is every year, by the Chattanooga Track Club.
Catoosa County Communities in Schools runs programs ranging from in-home visits to help young children prepare for school to high school programs on financial literacy and practical skills like cooking, sewing and even relationships. CIS helps with food, clothing, prom dresses, tutoring, mentoring, after-school care, parenting
classes, emotional support — pretty much anything a student needs to succeed.
“We are so appreciative of Builtwell Bank’s support,” CIS Executive Director Penny Mahon said in a telephone interview. “Their support helps keep our doors open. They are amazing.”
CIS, Mahon said, operates in five Catoosa County schools right now: Cloud Springs Elementary, West Side Elementary, Lakeview Middle School, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School and
Builtwell Bank of Ringgold, through its annual GradURun 5K race and one-mile Fun Walk, raised $32,800 for Communities in Schools. On hand for the check presentation was (from left) Linda Smith, vice president of Builtwell Bank, Penny
Mahon, executive director of Communities in Schools of Catoosa County, Rene’ Tinker, assistant vice president with Builtwell Bank, Jacy Nipper, program manager of Communities in Schools of Catoosa County, and Sherry Lones, market leader of Ringgold/Vice President with Builtwell Bank.
Ringgold High School. In the fall, Tiger Creek Elementary will be added to that list.
CIS is a 50-year-old national organization that has chapters in 27 states and Washington, D.C., works in over 3,200 schools and serves over a million students. CIS works in 244 Georgia schools and serves over 137,500 students in the state.
The next Builtwell Bank GradURun will be March 15, 2025.
To learn more about Communities in Schools, visit https://www.catoosacis.org.