For 17 years, Park City has come together in the most spectacular way possible to support our educators, students and schools. This month, our community did it again through the incredible celebration that is the Park City Education Foundation’s Running with Ed(ucation)! As a longtime board me mber, I am often in awe of this town, but Running with Ed race day always takes my breath away. The energy this year was absolutely electric. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and unmatched spirit of our community, the 17th annual Running with Ed was a massive success, bringing together hundreds of runners, dedicated volunteers, and an incredible network of donors and sponsors. Together, we raised vital funds that go directly into our classrooms to support the Park City Education Foundation’s mission. By funding educator-powered initiatives, the foundation channels community generosity straight into the classrooms. The foundation’s impact spans from expanding equitable preschool access to fueling cutting-edge, real-world learning. It reaches all the way to Bright Futures, a hugely successful program that helps all first-generation students access college and supports them all the way through college graduation. Ultimately, the foundation does this work because they believe a community thrives when its educators are empowered, its classrooms are fully equipped, and every child is given the chance to reach their full, lifelong potential. The scale of an event like Running with Ed truly takes a village. Our fantastic school parent-teacher organizations hosted five phenomenal exchanges — no small feat during the chaotic final weeks of the school year when calendars are packed and volunteer time is precious. Local powerhouses like Skullcandy, Momentous, and Windermere brought incredible vibes and energy to the exchanges as well, while our epic finish party was fueled by the fantastic food, beverages and giveaways from local favorites like Auntie Em’s, Park City Brewing, and Westgate Park City. There is nothing quite like looking out at the course and seeing families running, walking, and laughing together! Our community showed up in full force to volunteer, fundraise, and cheer each other on. I’d especially like to share heartfelt thanks as we celebrate some major transitions behind the scenes. We are deeply grateful to our long-time chair, Christine Grenney, as she rolls off the board, and we are thrilled to welcome our new Running with Ed chair, Kouy Kolar! Additionally, a massive thank you goes to Jennifer Billow for her 15 years of dedicated service to the foundation and for helping evolve Running with Ed into the success it is today. We wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement. Thanks to the immense generosity of VUE Christie’s International Real Estate, nearly 200 Park City School District teachers were able to participate for free, with many telling us it is their absolute favorite day of the school year. We also owe a huge thank you to our presenting sponsors, Event Network and Vail Resorts Epic Promise Foundation. Through Vail Resorts’ sponsorship, $10,000 went straight back to our school parent-teacher organizations via the Park City Mountain participation grants, sparking some wonderful friendly competition among our elementary schools.  While we are deeply proud of every dollar raised, Running with Ed has always been about something much bigger than fundraising. It is the ultimate moment of connection for Park City and a time to honor the educators who shape our children’s futures, capturing the true heart, energy, and gratitude of the Park City community. Thank you, Park City, for showing up, stepping up, and running toward a brighter future for all of our students. Suzanne Jacoby Board Chair, Park City Education Foundation The post Still running hard appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less