Panama Class Of 2024 To Host Memorial Day Fundraiser
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PANAMA -- Panama Central School's Class of 2024 is hosting a 5K color run fundraiser on Memorial Day. A portion of the funds will go toward a veteran's organization.
The class has organized previous color run fundraisers and decided to do this one tied in with Memorial Day. One of the class advisors, Helen Keefe, said having done events like this in the past, planning was easy, especially since she knew the community enjoyed participating in fun, athletic activities.
"I first started to do the color runs as fundraisers in Falconer when I was the soccer boosters president there," Keefe said. "The events went over so well I actually held another color run as a fundraiser when I advised a group while teaching at Salamanca. This is the Panama Class of 2024's third color run, and the kids just love doing this event. They are experts at doing it by now and it's just so seamless since they can do it on their own at this point."
Additionally, Keefe said the students always enjoy spraying friends and family members with color during the run. They also learn organization and how to work with others while preparing for the event. Class officers organizing the event are Corinne Hovey, Caroline Apthorpe, Sarah Harvey, Brandon Keefe and Lauren Gibbs.
For the current color run, the class is having sponsors from the wider community, making it slightly different than previous events.
"We have gold sponsors and silver sponsors," the class' other advisor, Dave Becker, said. "We had members of the community become sponsors. Our gold sponsors are Panama Rocks and J Edwards Insurance. Silver sponsors are Panama Auto Center, Cattaraugus County Bank, Whittier Apple Farm and Northridge Services."
A portion of the donations collected from the event will go toward the Department of Veterans Affairs in Buffalo.
"It's a nonprofit, lifetime supporter for veterans," Brandon Keefe said. "They help equip veterans to gain jobs and support themselves."
Specifically, the donations will go to the Disabled American Veterans, an organization that assists veterans in filing compensation and pension claims through the VA, along with helping them to find jobs.
Corinne Hovey said for the class, a lot of work has gone into organizing the event.
"Ms. Keefe made sure we got in contact with the businesses," Hovey said. "We did a lot of work to make sure the event would be active for the entire community. It also connects to another specific event in the community, the Memorial Day Parade, which is also very special for the community."
On the day of the parade, registration for the color run -- which the class has titled "The Red, White and Blue Color Fun Run" -- begins at 8:30 a.m. on School Street next to the school. The race itself begins at 9 a.m. Registration is also available online or by scanning the QR code on the posters that the class made. It is $30 a person, and can also be registered or paid for by seeing any class officer or advisor. Each participant also gets a T-shirt and color pack.
Harvey said the class plans on holding more events.
"It's a good way to come together," Harvey said. "It's fun and raises money for a good cause. We also pick a different charity to donate to each year."
For Lauren Gibbs, what she is most looking forward to with the event is seeing the class's work pay off.
"We will get to see the work that we put into this come together," Gibbs said. "I'm also looking forward to being able to support the community and the Buffalo VA."
For those who would like to donate but are not able to make it to the event, they can also send a check to the school to go in the class funds.
"Not only can you run in color runs but you can walk or ride your bike as well," Keefe said. "This is a great way to support your community while having fun and staying fit. And in any case there is usually a good cause to support the event and it just feels good to help others while having a little bit of fun and adventure at the same time."