For the past 13 years, the Pleasanton United School District has organized a running fundraiser for children, parents, and the entire community. This annual event occurs on either Sunday the 27th or 28th of April. Families can sign themselves or their children up for a 2 mile run, 5k (3.1 miles), or a 10k (6.2 miles).
“I decided to run it because a lot of friends and my family all do it, and it’s super fun to connect with our community and raise money for the schools,” said Carys Shannon (‘26).
Running is a hobby that many don’t enjoy, but when it’s backed with a good cause and a chance to bond with others, people are more than happy to join in.
“The running was hard at times but I had a really good time,” said Aly Barraclough (‘26).
Giving Back to the Community
Many of the students and families who participate in this annual fundraiser have similar positive feelings about it and continue to participate year after year. Many think it’s a good way to connect and give back to their community.
“To me, this fundraiser means our schools will be getting better, like materials and help with extra programs that aren’t normally funded. That means a lot that we can raise the money for those,” said Shannon.
There is no doubt that this fundraiser is not just fun, but it also supports a great cause. Schools all over the nation are constantly trying to find new ways to generate funding for better resources, and the PPIE run is an exceptional example.
“I think other districts should have fun activities like this because it supports an important cause like education by doing something that is healthy and fun,” said Barraclough.
Overall, our schools in the Pleasanton United School District do an excellent job at creating a sense of unity for local families and raising money in fun and creative ways. The PPIE Run has been an amazing experience for 13 years and continues to go strong. In total, Pleasanton families have raised over 1 million dollars, and will hopefully continue to do so.
