Community Foundation Run
Last updated Monday, March 16th.
We have been monitoring the global and local impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and are following the guidance of the Gaston County Department of Health & Human Services and the NC DHHS. Our top priority is always the health and safety of our runners, volunteers, spectators and supporters.
The 2020 Community Foundation Run scheduled for April 4th has been canceled. Due to the months of planning that it takes to coordinate the event and the number of vendors that are involved, unfortunately it's just not possible to reschedule. However, we’ve been working on plans to have a “virtual race” instead.
Please understand the cancellation in no way affects what nonprofit organizations have already raised or if it will be matched. Fundraising will continue through Monday, April 13th.
We know that you have a lot of questions. Please take a moment to thoroughly read through the information below as we’ve tried to be as detailed as possible.
Community Foundation Office Closed
-To protect the health of our employees and our community the Community Foundation is restricting all visitors to our office beginning Tuesday, March 17th thrugh Tuesday, March 31st.
-Although our office will be closed Foundation’s staff will be working remotely in an effort to take proactive steps to best prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our staff will be available by email and phone from 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
-For contact information please visit our website: http://www.cfgaston.org/About/ContactUs.aspx
-Should you need to drop something off at our office, we will have a drop box outside of our front door beginning Wednesday, March 18th.
Nonprofit Fundraising
-We are still accepting donations through Monday, April 13th.
-This cancellation in no way affects the matching grant. Organizations will still have a portion of their donations matched at the end of the giving period.
-More important than ever to donate to nonprofits that are at forefront of outbreak
-There are several ways to give: You can donate online: cfgaston.org/Run. Donations can be mailed to our office: P.O. Box 123, Gastonia, NC 28053. On Wednesday, March 18th we’ll have a drop box installed outside of our office doors where and you can drop off donations there as well during our normal business hours, 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Virtual race
-Althugh we can’t all gather for the Run we still wanted to give our community an opportunity to participate in the event in some form.
-On April 4th, we will have a virtual race; A virtual race is a race that can be run (or walked) from any location you choose. You can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill, at the gym, or on the track (or even at another race). You get to run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself. Stay tuned for more information from us and our timing company, Start2Finish, on how this will work.
Volunteer Requirement
-Many rganizations had volunteers that were scheduled to work their required volunteers’ hours on the day of the run, and without the event this won’t be a requirement. Our steering committee is communicating this to our volunteers but we ask that you help us by passing along the information as well to your designated volunteer.
Participant Requirement
-Usually we require that each rganization provide a runner or a walker for the event. But with the event being canceled we will not require that this year. If your organization doesn’t have a registered participant there will not be any consequences and you’ll still receive the matching grant.
-It’s up to the discretion of the participants that registered to run/walk on behalf of your organization if they would like to participate in the virtual race, let their registration fee substitute for a donation to organization, or receive a refund
-Participation awards will change: Organization with the most registered participants will receive $500. Organization with the most virtual race participants will receive $500. Because we will not have a way to professionally time the virtual race we will not be giving any other age group awards.
Refunds
-If you do not want to participate in the virtual run and you do not want your registration fee to be turned into a donation for a participating nonprofit then we can process a refund.
-We strongly encourage you to consider letting your registration fee be a direct donation to a participating nonprofit. Nonprofit organizations will be counting on donations now more than ever.
-If you would like a refund please send an email to ewiggins@cfgaston.org with yur name, date of birth, and address with the subject line “Refund: 2020 Run”
Run Breakfast
-The annual Run breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, June 4th unless need arises to postpone.
-Should we postpone or have to cancel the run breakfast, checks will be mailed out mid-June.
T-shirts
-If you participate in the virtual run, you’ll be mailed a t-shirt following the race
-Otherwise, if yu’ve registered for the run but don’t submit your time to the virtual race, you’ll be able to pick up your t-shirt at a later date
Packet pickup
-Packet pickup scheduled fr March 30th – April 3rd at the Cmmunity Foundation is also canceled. There will be no bibs or timing chips to pick up.
-T-shirts that are usually picked up during packet pickup will be mailed t virtual race participants or available for pick up at a later date for other registered participants.
Facebook Contest
-Organizatins have the opportunity to email (ewiggins@cfgastn.org) a photo to be posted on the Foundation’s Facebook
-The photo with the most likes on GCF’s Facebook will be granted $250
-We’ve created an album on our Facebook: https://www.facebok.com/pg/CommunityFndGC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2619823878116358
When: CANCELED Saturday, April 4, 2020. See more information about the 2020 Run below!
Where: Rotary Pavilion, Downtown Gastonia
What: Certified 5K Run, 2K Fun Walk, non-profit booth exhibits, cornhole tournament, and Healthy Kids Zone
Who: Walkers and runners of all ages, participating non-profits, community spectators
On the day of the Run, over 5,000 people come together for one of the biggest celebrations of community spirit and support in the county. The day is filled with a 5k Run and 2k Fun Walk, entertainment, games and nonprofit informational booths. The magic of a community celebration, combined with ease of giving has increased awareness about the work of local organizations and has enabled them to raise over $21 million in the last seventeen years.
Dollars given to the Match Fund will be applied to the matching grant, which benefits ALL participating nonprofits. Dollars earmarked for certain nonprofits will go to the specific organization(s) named. For qualifying agencies, up to $10,000 of total dollars raised will be matched by a percentage based on a ratio of the total amount of dollars collected in the match pot compared to the amount of eligible donor contributions. Gaston County schools share a $15,000 cap.
History of the Run
As a way to celebrate the Community Foundation’s 25th anniversary, the first “Run for the Money” event was held March 29, 2003. Building on an idea from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Linda Slade and May Barger co-chaired the event and modeled it after the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole's Old Bill's Fun Run for Charities.
After fourteen consecutive years, the success of the event has been proclaimed by participating non profits, community leaders, runners, walkers, donors, sponsors and all participants. To celebrate the success of the Run, the Board voted in 2014 to change the name to the Community Foundation Run.
Download 2020 Run Informational Brochure [PDF]
Download 5K Course Map [JPEG]
Download Walk Course Map [PDF]
Download Parking Map [PDF]
CLICK HERE FOR 2018 RACE RESULTS
CLICK HERE FOR 2017 RACE RESULTS
CLICK HERE FOR 2016 RACE RESULTS
2016 Community Foundation Run Video
The Community Foundation Run is a qualifying race for the Gaston County Senior Games.