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Schools

Twilight 5K Run Raises Over $30,000 For Township Schools

Chatham Park Elementary School wins the one-mile challenge.

Saturday’s cool temperatures made for a great running day for the 5th annual Twilight 5K Run and One-Mile Elementary School Challenge race sponsored by the Haverford Township Education Foundation. This year’s race raised more than $30,000 for educational programs for Haverford Township schools. 

The race drew 400 runners and is the biggest fundraising event for the foundation. The money raised is used to fund innovative educational programs in Haverford Township schools. 

The One-Mile Challenge is a big draw for the elementary schools. The school with the best-combined time in the race gets to host the Twilight Run trophy in their school for the entire year. was again the winner of the challenge. 

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Coming in first overall again this year was Havertown resident Doug Schmitt with an official time listed at 16:43.

“It’s a great course and a good day,” Schmitt said.

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Coming in second was Ardmore resident Tim Hayburn.  

First female finisher was Elizabeth Welsh of the Fairmount section of Philadelphia with an official time listed at 19:27. Finishing second for women was Kathleen Roach of the Manayunk section of Philadelphia.  

Roach, although an experienced runner, says she finally put out the money for a “dedicated pair of racers” and wore them in the race. She said she felt they “brought her luck” in Saturday's race.

Roach is a teacher in another school district but said, “I’m all for any event that raises money for schools. It was a great course with some challenging hills. I love these local races, they have such a great sense of community spirit." 

teacher Kirsten Montgomery participated in the run for the second year.

“I ran the Hillcrest 5K earlier in the day" and the Twilight Run course "was a little better. I like it a lot, it has a nice mix of up and down components,” she said of the course. Montgomery will also run in the Broad Street Run next week.

State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-166), who came in 8th place overall said, “this was a great day, and a great course with some very good runners here.” For Vitale however he says, there is a bonus running in this race. “I get to do what I love, running, and also see the people in my district."

Coming in first in the One-Mile Challenge was Jack Roth of Whitby Road in Havertown who attends Chesnutwold Elementary school. His time was recorded at race time of 6:17.   

Foundation Board President Christine Fritton was pleased to announce the donation of a new iPad this year, which was donated by . Registered runners in the 18 years old and younger category were eligible to win the iPad. 

The young runners waited in anticipation as Bryn Mawr Trust Vice President Bob Latshaw drew the winning ticket. Daisy Adams, a second grader from , was the lucky winner and said, “I’m so excited, I can’t wait to try it.”  

Race director and HTEF board member Jon Meyer said, “In 2009, Haverford High School received a $30,000 grant to rebuild the school radio station. Over the last few years, each of the township’s five elementary schools has received $10,000 in grants. Those grants were used to implement innovative learning programs in the schools.” 

Meyer, who is also vice president of sales for Nolan Painting, a major sponsor for the event, said, “This is the best turnout so far and we have been able to give over $40,000 to Haverford Township schools in the last five years.” 

Both Meyer and Kevin Nolan, owner of , volunteer their time to run the event each year.  

Nolan, who was co-director of the race this year, said, “The Twilight event is one of the most fun events that my company sponsors. It is a real community event. Jon (Meyer) did a great job this year as director; it was a great success all around.” 

Some of the programs helped by the grant money included "Chat Live" a weekly student-led news program at Chatham Park Elementary School. The Manoa School purchased the DREEM program, which is an innovative program that uses LEGO's to teach children the principles of engineering and robotics. Other elementary schools used the funds to install interactive SmartBoard technology to improve the learning experiences for students in their school. 

Haverford Township schools are required to submit an application for grant money to fund their proposed programs. These applications are reviewed by the foundation and approved in various amounts depending on the program and needs of the school.

“This year, the foundation hopes to award a grant of $30,000 to for the Summer Academy 2012 planned for this summer,”  Meyer said.

The Summer Academy 2012 is open to students who have completed grades 4th through 8th and will be held from July 9 through Aug. 2, at the Haverford Middle School. Students will participate in a variety of programs in business, math, languages, nutrition, reading, sciences, music and the arts, including drama, drawing, painting, sculpting and more.  

Official race results at be found on the website of the Run The Day race management at http://www.runtheday.com  

For more information on “Summer Academy 2012”, check out the website at http://www.haverfordedfoundation.org/summeracademy2012.html  or email: summer@haverfordedfoundation.org   

For more information on the Foundation and how to donate or volunteer, please see the website at  http://www.haverfordedfoundation.org/  or email: info@haverfordedfoundation.org  

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