Nearly 3,000 runners/walkers take off to start July 4 in Pacific Palisades.
Optimist Grant Applications Available
Have ever wondered what happens to the net proceeds from the annual Fourth of July Will Rogers 5/10K Race, after expenses, including T-shirts, sound system and permits?
The money (usually about $30,000) comes back to the community in the form of grants. Since 1987, the Pacific Palisades Optimist Club has partnered with the Palisades Will Rogers 10K Run Foundation (also known as the Ridge Runners). Optimist members register runners the day of the race, provide water at stations and hand out t-shirts after the race.
Once expenses are paid, the Run Foundation gives the money to the Optimists, who then advertise and collect grant applications and administer the funds.
Grant applications are now available to youth organizations based in the Palisades or those that provide services that benefit children in the community.
Grants may be used to fund a specific event, for equipment, a facility or service and must be spent this year.
Grants are awarded on the basis of various criteria, including the impact on youth in Pacific Palisades, the number of youths affected by the program, the effectiveness of the program and the program’s likely longevity.
Applications must be completed and returned by March 1, either 1) by mail to Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, P.O. Box 211, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272; or 2) by hand delivery to the Optimist Co-Presidents Rich Wilken or Arnie Wishnick or the grant committee chair Jody Margulies (Jodymargulies@me.com).
Award decisions will be made within two months and grant recipients will be notified, and if possible, accept the award at a weekly Tuesday breakfast meeting (7:30-8:30 a.m.) at Janes Hall at the Palisade Presbyterian Church, 15821 Sunset Blvd.
Prior grants have helped fund a diverse number of grants, such as public school programs, Palisades Cares, the Crayon Collection, Palisades Beautiful, Movies in the Park, the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association, Bryan’s Smile, the Village Green, the Chamber of Commerce teen contest and the YMCA-Optimist Track meet.
Children are at the start line for Fourth of July Kids Fun Run.
APPLICATION:
