The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph courtesy of Booksin School

School Pride: Booksin students get ready to begin their annual walk-a-thon. Nearly 600 students walked in the all-day event, which raised $70,000. Last year, the same fundraiser brought in $62,000, and the year before it raised $52,000.

Walk-a-thons haul in the big bucks for two schools

Annual fundraisers supplement schools' activities, supplies

By Annette Ha

Both Booksin and Schallenberger elementary schools hosted enormously successful annual walk-a-thons at the beginning of the month.

Booksin's Oct. 4 all-day event raised a total of $70,000, compared to $62,000 last year and $52,000 the year before that. "It just increases every year," said event organizer Stephanie Preskar. "I never thought we would be able to top last year."

Nearly 600 students walked close to 7,000 miles in the walk-a-thon, but one deserves special notice. This year's theme was "Take a Walk on the Wild Side," and student Kenny Guertin did just that. The fifth-grader walked 99 laps--the equivalent of 33 miles--to beat last year's record of 27 miles, which he also set. He and the other children will receive recognition at an award assembly Nov. 7.

The event's success, according to Preskar, was due to the dedication and support of the Booksin Elementary Student and Community Association and to the many Willow Glen businesses that donated their products and services.

Proceeds will go to underwriting supplies and student activities that the school's budget wouldn't be able to fund. "Without the walk-a-thon, we wouldn't have field trips, computers or a science program, and the music program would be in serious trouble," Preskar added.

Schallenberger also raised an impressive amount for its programs. Though all the pledges haven't been collected yet, organizers expect the total to reach $39,000, which would be a significant increase over last year's $33,000.

The Oct. 4 walk-a-thon was a day of fun for everyone, according to Principal Carol Garcia. "We walked, and we ate. We got our faces painted," she said. "It was just a wonderful atmosphere."

The money raised will also go toward much-needed projects such as a new playground and an outdoor science program. Last year's pledges enabled the school to buy 15 new computers.

The walk-a-thon is "critical to the enrichment activities at Schallenberger," said Garcia.

She lauded the hard work of parent and coordinator Kelley Smith and other volunteers. "Those ladies should be commended," Garcia said.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]