8th Annual Run The Good Race

Frank Boal, Fox 4 TV, accepts honorary Chair of 8th Annual Run the Good Race! 
 SOH shared three key reasons for Run the Good Race with Boal.  We want to share those with all our friends as well:

·    SOH seeks the community of God in all we do; Run the Good Race builds the SOH community and then reaches out to Kansas City, Kansas and beyond.

·    SOH can only serve those who know we exist; Run the Good Race builds visibility.

·    SOH subsidizes many of the groups and individuals coming for retreat; Run the Good Race raises funds for our mission.

Run the Good Race is unashamedly a fundraiser.  To continue our mission as a retreat and prayer center in the inner city wile  reaching out to those most in need and least able to afford a place of retreat from the violence and stresses of daily life we must raise funds beyond those collected as fees.  The hundreds of hours of labor donated by volunteers reduce SOH’s costs.  Additional support comes through donations and grants, but there is still a significant gap which fundraisers help fill.

Run the Good Race 2006 netted $8,000 for SOH’s general fund.  The goal this year is to boost funds raised by 25% to $10,000 at the same time increasing our visibility and community involvement by topping 300 runners!  

There are more efficient ways to raise funds than a run, but few offer a better visibility.  Run the Good Race creates opportunities to get SOH’s name and logo in front of the community – on brochures, t-shirts, newspaper articles, ads, community web sites and more.  Most of 500+ people who attend the run – runners, volunteers, spectators and sponsors – came the first time for the run.  While only a few will book retreat space, many return as volunteers or support us in other ways.  All leave here talking about the beauty, peace and hospitality of SOH.

Frank Boal, Honorary Chairperson for Run the Good Race, will draw media attention to SOH’s beautiful facilities and introduce our mission to a new audience.

 The 1st Annual Run the Good Race was a gift of the SOH community, a coming together to work for the good of all and a commitment to Kansas City, Kansas.  The greatest success of the 7th Run the Good Race was a recommitment to building community by working together for this event.  Now the 8th Run incorporates the beginnings of Celebrate Community into the run day events where organizations, businesses, civic groups and individuals will display information or market their wares.  We believe this sharing of information will help us know our “neighbors” a little better.

Important in building community relations is coming together for fun.  Neighbors enjoy the breakfast, cheer the runners or run themselves and relax on the grounds.  In 2006 the awards ceremony gained excitement with Mexican Dancers.  This year entertainment will include live music, dancing and maybe a surprise or two.

 To make money, be seen and offer hospitality we need everyone to:

+Seek possible sponsors. 

+Encourage groups to rent booth space for Celebrate Community.

+Form a team.  See www.sanctuaryofhope.org or call the office for details.

+Recruit runners (or walkers)

+Sponsor a runner. 

+Volunteer before, during and after the event we need your help. 

+Call 913 321 HOPE or check www.sanctuaryofhope.org or come by the office.