Wittenberg is notorious for its involvement and support in campus and community related events, and philanthropic runs are no exception. It has only been a month since students have arrived back on campus, yet there have already been four runs on campus with tremendous turnouts at each one.
If you have somehow missed out on some of these opportunities, make sure you’re checking your email and the wall in the Student Center. Every week, campus information sends out a Witt’s Happening email with detailed events happening every day of the week. In addition, there is a new “What’s Happening? Witt’s Happening,” wall located outside of Post 95, with the detailed events listed on chalkboard days of the week.
If you have been keeping up with all the awesome events around campus, the increase in community runs this year has been incredible. Since week one, there has been a philanthropic run almost every week. The runs that have already taken place include: The Walk to End Alzheimer’s [a community walk facilitated with the help of Wittenberg’s Sigma Kappa sorority], the Stand Up to POTS 5K [to raise awareness for the POTS disease, which has directly impacted the life of biology professor Cathy Pederson’s oldest daughter], along with the CROP Hunger Walk and the Phi Kappa 5K.
The most recent running events included the CROP Hunger Walk and the Phi Kappa 5K. Both took place last Sunday, with proceeds going to amazing causes in the Springfield community and beyond. The CROP Hunger Walk included a three mile walk around Springfield to raise funds and awareness for the fight to end hunger. Twenty-five percent of all funds stayed in Springfield and with the help of Second Harvest Food Bank, every $1 raised was able to feed a family of four.
Aside from the CROP Hunger Walk, Wittenberg’s own Phi Kappa Psi philanthropy held the first annual Phi Kappa 5K, a community run benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of America. The 5K transitioned into a cookout with food and beverages sponsored by Chipotle, Cousin Vinny’s Pizza, Bada Bing! Pizzeria, Panera and others. This cookout allowed students and the community to talk more about the Phi Kappa Psi philanthropy and to spread awareness.
This was the first year for the Phi Kappa 5k run, but Phi Kappa Psi philanthropy chair Loie Greenwood, ‘19, shared his excitement regarding the success.
“We are really happy with how the event went! We had just under 100 runners, sold over 170 shirts and will be able to donate a four-digit number to the Boys and Girls Club America. Our sponsors were awesome and we’re so pumped that we pulled it off. Next year we hope that numbers, donations and participation will keep rising, and that we can reach out to the Springfield community more,” Greenwood said.
Wittenberg continues to amaze all with our dedication to year round service. And as the weather starts to cool down, the runs will slowly come to a halt, but Witt’s involved spirit will not.
