For nearly four decades, people have been running, walking and focusing on the Seal Beach community every April for the annual 5K/10K and for the last few years, the 1K kids fun run.
On Monday, Run Seal Beach announced it has crossed the threshold of giving back more than $1 million in local grants and awards.
“This has been our biggest year ever,” said Elizabeth Kane, race treasurer. “We have given $177,850 in 91 individual awards and grants to 83 different organizations. It is a banner year.”
Race Director Marc Loopesko echoed her sentiments.
“It is a crowning achievement to be able to say we have given more than a million dollars back to the community, actually $1,003,500 in the last 11 years,” he said.
Funds go to a variety of non-profits, particularly in the sports and recreation sector. The entire LAUSD actually is the major beneficiary of over 47% of the total funds raised over the last decade.
Other major recipients include the city of Seal Beach Community Services Department, police, lifeguards and other Seal Beach and Los Alamitos based non-profits. In general, grant recipients will range in awards from $500 to just over $7,500. Uses are usually for direct equipment costs, scholarships or improvements to programs for the recipients.
For many groups, like the Los Alamitos booster clubs, this is vital funding to support many of their direct costs. Many recipients have Run Seal Beach as a key sponsor of scholarships, direct support of their mission or for enrichment of existing programming.
“Undoubtedly it is in part because of the sponsorship of Run Seal Beach that allows the city to continue to offer high caliber community/recreation programs, increase recreation opportunities, and the ‘above and beyond’ ongoing support you now give to other projects such as the palm tree lighting at the pier,” said Seal Beach City Manager Jill Ingram. “It’s a tribute to your commitment to Seal Beach by taking the lead on providing the City with the necessary funding to keep our community pool operating as efficiently as possible until we have a brand new community pool plan moving forward.”
With dozens of recipients and the largest award size ever, Run Seal Beach has managed to make the event even larger than it was ever imagined.
“It is a privilege to be part of producing such an incredible event for Seal Beach,” Loopesko said. “We have over 550 volunteers on race day, and our organizing committee does so much work, from the Start Line to Finish line. Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers who made the million dollar finish possible.”
Run Seal Beach is already gearing up for the 2014 race on April 5. For more information, go to www.RunSealBeach.com and keep an eye out for registration and sponsorship information.
