Students at Palmer River Elementary are Inspired to Build Character Through Sports at Boosterthon Fun Run

Palmer River Elementary in Rehoboth will host a Boosterthon Fun Run event on June 9. The Boosterthon Fun Run is a nine-day program that increases funds for local schools and inspires students to live healthy, character-filled lives. Students will run for about 30 minutes to themed music at the big event. Boosterthon’s character theme this year is Big World Recess. The theme introduces more than 1 million students in 1,600 schools across the nation to real kid-athletes in other cultures who play a sport with character.

“In our 14 years serving schools, this theme is by far our best yet, because we are bringing students in America inspiring stories from around the world,” said Chris Carneal, Boosterthon founder and president. “Big World Recess promotes the side of sports we all love while giving students a rich global perspective.”

The fitness theme features stories of six kid-athletes and illustrates the power of living out character in sports and in life. Students were introduced to uplifting stories originating in New York City, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland and Kenya.

With a continued emphasis on multi-cultural education in American classrooms, Boosterthon students will experience up-close how sports bring people together. Documentary-style videos taught students how to develop teamwork, curiosity, practice, humility, confidence and endurance through the every day stories of the six kid-athletes.

In addition to the character theme, Boosterthon’s cutting edge fundraising program helps schools raise 70 percent more than alternative fundraisers. Schools select their service level, which has custom service options; Boosterthon Live, Boosterthon Event, or Fun Run You, a school-led innovation of the popular program. Each level includes its own sliding-scale pricing structure that allows schools to maximize funds.

The most exciting addition to the Boosterthon Fun Run program this year is the brand-new Student Star video. Booster is the first company in its industry to use this revolutionary technology, which allows parents to cast their child as the star in a short film by uploading their picture at funrun.com. Parents can then share the video to ask for support from friends and family in a fun and light way.

“Our schools dream big for their students,” said Carneal. “And they want a fundraiser that can keep up with their growing needs through innovation. Each year, we over-deliver by raising even more funds, inspiring students in new ways and providing a world-class experience schools look forward to year after year.”

Integrated into the program is Boosterthon’s 2015-16 giveback program, The Great Shoe Takeoff, with a goal to send 60,000 gently used pairs of shoes from the U.S., overseas. As classes reach fundraising milestones, Boosterthon will pay to fly a pair of shoes to communities in need. In developing countries, shoes can lead to better health, education and jobs. This initiative partners with non-profit delivery organizations to donate shoes where they are needed most. The Great Shoe Takeoff, like the theme, increases students’ global awareness and the idea that no matter where someone lives, they can help change the world.

For more information about this year’s theme, the Student Star video, The Great Shoe Takeoff or bringing the Boosterthon Fun Run to your community, visit www.boosterthon.com.