Introduction:
The last 16 months have proven to be very challenging times for everyone. From a global pandemic to racial injustices, it is safe to say a lot has occurred. These times have shown us more than anything that we are more than an organization dedicated to running. While this is the core of what we do, our impact can and will expand far beyond the track or the field.
We as a club have taken a stand on issues surrounding racial injustices and have supported student-run initiatives to enact change within our direct communities and beyond. We as a club will continue to listen and are eager to utilize our platform to both educate and drive change.
2020-2021 Donations:
This year was a monumental year in terms of donations. Below is a running list of charitable giving we as a club partook in this academic year:
Through our July 2020 Virtual Bingo Fundraising event, we were able to donate a total of $1,365.40 split between the NAACP & The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Native and Indigenous People. Though the ongoing pandemic separated many of us, this was a chance to use social media to not only stay connected but both promote the club and donate to some causes that could really use the support at that time.
In the middle of our season, we utilized our Spring Gear Catalogue to create 2 unique designs, one tailored to celebrating our rich club history and one celebrating our commitment to equality. These pieces serve as an outward sign of peace, love, and equality and we are eager to see them on the backs of our athletes as they compete and train. Partnering with a local printing shop we were able to donate $5 from each item sold which equaled roughly $100 donated to Black Lives Matter.
Our now second annual Virtual Race allowed for our athletes to not only remain competitive throughout the summer months but gave them something bigger than themselves to run for. The club, together, logged hundreds of miles in a short period of time and their efforts led to $1,168.79 being split and donated to Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, and the New American Welcome Center.
At the end of our season former President, Ciara Ward hosted a fundraiser where each member of the former board had the opportunity to donate whatever amount they so choose and she would match the donation amount. This fundraiser ultimately led to $410 being donated to the Equal Justice Initiative.
In total throughout this last school year we donated over $3,000 to some very noteworthy causes. We could not be more proud to share this information and want to thank each and every member of our club, past and present, for playing a part in making numbers like these a reality.
Forward Outlook:
We realize that our work is far from finished. Track and field is the core of what we do but is not at all a limiting factor as to what we are capable of accomplishing. Our club is composed of future industry leaders, artists, activists, and everything in between. Our actions will continue to reflect the diverse makeup of our organization. Thus, moving forward we want to do more. We will continue to utilize our platform to evoke change. Though these accomplishments from the year prior are noteworthy, they nearly serve as a benchmark for what the future should entail. No matter if it’s on the track or in the community, we’re just getting started. We plan on using our members to find more ways to get engaged within our communities and make a real difference. We wholeheartedly believe our efforts can leave a lasting impact as we are the generation that will change the world.
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