Friday, June 3, 2005

Cooley 5K Race For Education Raises Over $9,000 For Area Educational Institutions

Lansing, Michigan — Over $9,000 will be donated to area educational institutions this summer following the sixth annual Cooley 5K Race for Education. The sunny weather brought out a record number of people with hundreds and hundreds of runners, walkers, family, friends, and race volunteers enjoying the festivities, which included the music of the Uptown Band, face painting, kids activities and children's races.

The Cooley 5K race, which is part of the Playmakers Series, each year attracts more walkers and runners to Lansing, for a scenic race through the downtown area. This year there were 469 registered entrants. Each registered participant designates an area educational institution to receive a share of the race proceeds in the event that his or her name is drawn.

The top 2005 dollar winner was Lansing Catholic Central, which was nominated by Peggy Rademacher of Lansing. Lansing Catholic will receive a check for $4,545.16. This amount beats 2004's 50 percent winner by nearly $1,400.00, a 44 percent increase over last year. Lansing Catholic Central's Development Director Mary Frank was thrilled and very thankful.

" I just want to thank everyone from the race who nominated Lansing Catholic Central," said Frank. "We are so excited and thankful. We certainly can use it for tuition assistance because there is always a need there, but we are also starting a major renovation project redoing the classrooms and we can put the money to good use for this as well."

The 25 percent proceeds winner was Cooley Law School nominated by Kammy Curtis of DeWitt, Mich., and will receive a check for $2,272.58, and was also the 5 percent proceeds winner nominated by Corinne Michaud, and will receive another check for $454.51. President and Dean Don LeDuc heard the news first-hand at the Cooley 5K Race award ceremony.

"This is great," said LeDuc. "I'd like this money to go to children's education in the area, and Cooley sponsors a Cooley for Kids Day every summer at the Lugnuts stadium. We'll earmark the money from our Cooley proceeds winnings to go to this yearly event."

The 10 percent winners were Grand Ledge High School, nominated by James Carlton of White Lake, Mich., and Marble Elementary, nominated by Anette Puleo of East Lansing. Each institution will receive a check for $909.03.

Grand Ledge High School's principal Rich Pochert was thrilled about winning and happy that the school was nominated.

"Thanks so much - that's great news," expressed Pochert. "We're constantly trying to upgrade our computer technology in our curriculum, and would be proud to be using the proceeds winnings to accomplish this. We're looking to purchase a data projector, laptops for a wireless environment, and other items to help improve our curriculum delivery message."

Marble Elementary principal Joanne Preston's first response was " Holy Smokes."

"We are so pleased and excited," exclaimed Preston. "Anette is a para professional here and she is so team oriented and we're thankful she entered the race on our school's behalf. It's wonderful, and we will certainly brainstorm with her on where she might like to see the money go. I'm sure, with all the budget cuts, it will be used to help with students' education and put back into the class."

This year's Cooley winner was St. Johns Public Schools nominated by Mindy Keck from Bannister, Mich. St. Johns Public Schools will receive $1,000. Roy Piggott, Business Manager for St. Johns was delighted and very appreciative.

"Thank you very much. With having to cut 3 million from the budget in the last three years, every little bit helps out. I'm sure we will be using it for supplies in the classrooms. We really have a desperate need and we're trying to make ends meet," said Piggott.

In the six years that Cooley has operated the 5K Race, nearly $40,000 has been awarded to area educational institutions.

For the race itself, the overall male winner was Eric Stuber of Lansing, with a time of 16:43, and the overall female winner was Anna Vanderstelt of Charlotte, Mich., with a time of 19:13. The Cooley 5K race had its first Wheeler, and winner of the 5K Wheelchair division, Bill Hattan of Portand, Mich., with a time of 31:12.

The overall male master's winner was Daniel Dixon of Jackson, Mich., with a time of 16:55, and Christine Vincent, also of Jackson, Mich., was the winner of the overall female master's division with a time of 19:58.

The overall winners and master's winners each won a Romantic Adventure package from the Radisson Hotel, which included a one-night stay in a whirlpool suite, complimentary champagne and truffles, a rose upon arrival, breakfast for two, and full use of the indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and exercise room.