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Popular Booksin fundraiser marks its 20th year

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Though Willow Glen's Founder's Day has passed and Homecoming is yet to come, another Willow Glen staple, the Booksin Elementary Walk-a-Thon, can be enjoyed Oct. 13 at the elementary school. The daylong walk by students, teachers, families and alumni--this year called "Oh, The Places We Will Go" and inspired by Dr. Seuss--will be filled with music, food and activities. The event will also mark the 20th anniversary of the popular community fundraiser.

"It's pretty remarkable," says Sheryl Adams, the event's founder and first chairwoman. "Twenty years and more than $100,000 raised annually--it's become a huge event."

In 1987, Adams was a parent at Booksin Elementary and noticed that the same people who volunteered for one school fundraiser volunteered for the rest throughout the year.

"It was hard for the volunteers," Adams says. "They were all the same ones doing them all, and it was trying."

Adams and neighbor Salome Woodward put their heads together to figure out how to streamline the fundraising process and take pressure off those volunteers.

"We were looking for something big instead of all the piddly ones, so that as a volunteer all your time and effort happened at the beginning of the year," she says.

At the time, no schools in San Jose had raised funds through walkathons, she said.

Adams was working at El Camino Hospital at the time, and a co-worker invited her to a walkathon, so she could see how one operated.

"I took it back to the board," she says. "It's hard to explain an idea, but everyone was on board."

The condition for this first attempt was that it match the funds made by the other fundraisers combined: $10,000.

"I was hoping for at least $15,000--to show that not only could we just have one event to do the trick, but also that it would make more than our current ones," Adams says.

That first year, the walkathon raised $20,000.

"This was unheard of for schools at the time," she says. "I had every school in the area calling me asking how to do it themselves. Word spread like wildfire and everyone jumped on the boat."

In recent years, that number has risen to an average of $110,000, says current co-chair and Booksin parent Diane Hayward. "Last year we raised $130,000," she says.

This is her third year involved in the event.

"Once you become involved, you are sucked in," Hayward says. "Part of it is that it's so much fun. You meet people and kids."

However, the end result is what keeps her passion strong.

"Look at the programs we had as kids, like field trips and music and art classes," she says. "These things are no longer fundamental elements of today's public school education. Through the walkathon, we want to provide these things to our kids. It gives us the resources."

The walkathon directly funds augmented arts and technology curriculums, computers, library books, school assemblies, field trips and teaching and classroom materials for the teachers.

Along with the participants' pledges, funds are raised through the silent auction segment of the day, as well as through private donations made by Booksin parents, alumni and local businesses.

Vacation homes, fine wine, professional services, sporting events and gift baskets are a few of the items up for auction.

The event has been successful for so many years for two reasons, Hayward says.

"People talk about what makes this different," she says. "It's the 20 years of experience, and the parents. It's unreal. You don't get a clear sense of commitment until you see what it takes individually."

The walkathon is sponsored by the Booksin Elementary School Community Association. A committee chaired by a team of parents manages a crew of about 40 committee members, who in turn head up the various segments of the day.

On the day of the event, roughly 300 additional parent and alumni volunteers work shifts.

Hayward says, "When we solicit, people recognize the event. Part of it is the longevity."

The planning stages for the event also take place at the beginning of the school year rather than midway, says this year's co-chair, Stacey Hoffman.

"We get everyone's attention in the beginning," she says. "All the needed involvement happens early on, and then they can sit back and move on for the rest of the school year."

Hoffman is also a newcomer to the event.

"Last year, Diane and I worked together the night before the event and the day of," she says. "It only took one year and I was hooked."

Adults, alumni and children can still participate in the event with a donation of $15 for children and $20 for adults and alumni. All participants will receive an event T-shirt.

The Booksin Walk-a-Thon is open to the public and will be held on Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1590 Booksin Elementary, Dry Creek Road, San Jose.