Battle Ground’s inaugural Harvest Days 5k Fun Run and 1-mile walk exceeded expectations prior to the parade on Saturday, July 18, drawing nearly 150 participants and raising nearly $10,000 to expand opportunities for Battle Ground Public Schools students.
Hosted by the Battle Ground Education Foundation (BGEF), the event reached its registration capacity before race day as community support poured in from sponsors, volunteers and participants.
BGEF Executive Director Jennifer McCoy said the response reaffirmed the community’s commitment to supporting local students.
“This is an attempt to not only stabilize funding for the foundation, but also to diversify our events to make them as accessible as we can to the employees and students and families in the Battle Ground Public Schools district,” McCoy said.
The foundation capped registration at 144 runners after reaching the first-time event’s capacity.
“I am absolutely thrilled about how it went,” McCoy said. “We had such generosity from sponsors, from businesses around town. We actually had to close down sales the night before because we had reached capacity of what we could serve in the 5k this time. So I couldn’t be happier about that.”
McCoy added that one reason for limiting registration was to ensure every participant received a finish-line cookie donated by Battle Ground bakery: Al and Ernie’s Bakery Cafe.
The event raised $9,901 to support the BGEF’s mission of removing barriers that prevent students from participating in school activities.
“What we will do with that is support access to activities and sports for all kids,” McCoy said. “We have recently been able to approve a grant request from the school district to help offset activity transportation costs connected with House Bill 1660, which mandates that school and club fees are waived for low-income students, which fits right in with what the foundation does. We don’t fund the actual programs. We fund the access to the programs for all, so it’s a great fit for us.”
McCoy added the success of the inaugural race and funding gained for the foundation’s mission reflected just how generous the Battle Ground community is.
“You know, I’m just so overwhelmed and pleased at the support that this community has for the students here,” she said. “It makes it such a pleasure to serve kids, to be backed in this way by our community.”
McCoy said the event would not have been possible without its sponsors.
Impact Automotive served as the event’s presenting sponsor after reaching out to the foundation looking for ways to support local students, McCoy said. Additional race sponsors included Riverview Bank, Kelly Muscarella of Keller Williams, Dick’s Point S, Molina Healthcare and Dev’s Coffee — whose sponsorship allowed organizers to add professional race timing.
McCoy said the addition of professional race time rapidly increased registrations, adding that Dev’s Coffee sponsoring the timing of the race was critical.
In-kind support also came from Inkability, Uptown Screen Printing and Bounce-N-Battle.
The race also relied on volunteers from across the community, including Battle Ground Public School employees, Battle Ground High School cross country athletes and PTO members, who helped make the event possible, McCoy added.
“We heard it was just such a fun event, and what a great way to support kids in Battle Ground,” McCoy said. “A lot of people were saying they’ll be back next year, which I’m so pleased to hear about. We want to come back even bigger and better next year.”
McCoy said that event organizers are already planning improvements to grow next year’s race, including a course with the same start and finish location, expanded participation and enhanced race timing with professional photography.
To learn more about the Battle Ground Education Foundation, visit bgef.org.
