Big Event Raises Funds

The effort to Save High School Sports in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District received its biggest community boost last Sunday at Newhall Park when over 2,000 people turned out for the inaugural 5K Run/Walk sponsored by United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation, the fundraising and support group headed by Clayton Valley High School athletic director and Clayton resident Pat Middendorf.

There were football jerseys galore along with shirts for cross country, water polo, basketball, wrestling, tennis, golf, volleyball, swimming, soccer, track and field, baseball, softball, lacrosse and sports medicine – all jeopardized by lack of funding. Last spring, the MDUSD board, facing the need to make severe budget cuts, took the extraordinary action of eliminating funding for these extracurricular activities that draw a participation of over 5000.

Based on the $20 entry fee and the amount of sponsor pledges turned in by high school students prior to race day, it’s likely the event fundraising exceeded $50,000 as the UMDAF continues one step at a time to reach its requirement of raising $1.2 million to ensure every high school sport takes place this school year.

Whether it's a hit-a-thorn, shoot-a-thon, golf-a-thon or run-a-thon, this age old idea still seems to work.