Sept. 20, 2011

More Than 1,000 Participants Raise 1,000s of Dollars for Local Schools at Cooley's 5k Race for Education

Each of the more 1,000 runners and walkers in Cooley Law School’s 5K Race for Education in downtown Lansing on Sunday had a chance to win money for his/her school of choice.  This year’s record number of racers breaks the previous record of more than 600 participants in last year’s event.

On Sunday, September 18, more than 1,000 runners and walkers participated in Cooley Law School's Race for Education. This year’s record number of racers outpaces last year’s record of more than 600. This was the 12th year for the event, which was held in downtown Lansing.  All proceeds collected at the race are donated to schools that are selected at random from nominations made by the race’s participants.  Pictured in the pink shirts are (left to right) Cassidy, Sarah and Willow, members of the Horizon Elementary Go Girl Go! team from Holt. [Photo Gallery]

Cooley's 5K Race for Education donates the proceeds to schools that are selected at random from nominations made by 5K participants. In addition, the School Competition Award honors the three schools with the most nominations with cash prizes from Cooley.

The winning schools were chosen by random drawings and each receives a percentage of the race proceeds. This year’s recipients include:

DeWitt High School, 50 percent winner, nominated by Alice Blackwood-Wyman

Horizon Elementary School, 25 percent winner, nominated by Mark Wichtoski

Williamston High School, 10 percent winner, nominated by Rebecca Lelaidier

Holt High School, 10 percent winner, nominated by Brenda Dooley

Waverly High School, 5 percent winner, nominated by Elitza Nicolaou

"We are thrilled by the community’s support and the record number of participants who came out to be part of Cooley's 5K Race for Education," said Terry Carella, Cooley's communications director and race director. "While we are still calculating proceeds from this year’s race, we know that the 5K Race for Education will be giving away thousands of dollars this year thanks to a record number of participants." Carella added that the partnership with Impression 5's Capital City River Run Half Marathon and Playmakers have been a win-win for schools and for the community. 

Horizon Elementary, in Holt, is both a recipient of the random drawing for the proceeds and the school competition award. "With cuts in funding to public education, this money comes at a perfect time," said Dawn Haddad, Horizon Elementary Go Girl Go! coach. "Not only was this a fun race with a beautiful course, it does so much by giving back to the community; we'll be back next year for sure."

Winners of the School Competition Award, determined by the number of nominations, ended with a three-way tie. Each school had 21 nominations each. A random drawing was used to determine first, second, and third-place awards.

1st Place: $1,000; Pinecrest Elementary School, East Lansing

2nd Place: $750; Sexton High School, Lansing

3rd Place; $500; Horizon Elementary School, Holt

The 5K Race for Education has raised more than $100,000 for educational institutions across the state since the inaugural event in 2000. 

Thomas M. Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation.  Founded in 1972, the private, non-profit law school operates its Juris Doctor program, Joint Degree programs, and Master of Laws programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Cooley recently announced a new Tampa Bay, Florida-area campus, with courses beginning in May 2012. Cooley has more than 15,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and offers enrollment three times a year  in January, May and September. Cooley is an independent law school, accredited by the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission. Additional information can be found at cooley.edu.