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More than 500 participants raise over $37,000 in cash, pledges and in-kind donations!
We are thrilled to announce the results of our first annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon to help the homeless. More than 500 participants joined together to raise over $37,000 in cash, pledges and in-kind donations! Praise God!
“We are pleased and blessed with the result of our first year,” says David Burrier, community relations officer at Hope Ministries. “Our objectives of increasing community awareness and education about homelessness were definitely achieved, and we surpassed our goal for participation. We look forward to building on this event in years to come.”
Registration for the walk-a-thon began at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. At 9:45, everyone gathered for a few welcoming comments from Hope Ministries President/CEO Leon Negen. By 10 a.m., walkers took to the Copper Creek Lake trail, where they experienced cardboard testimonies from a number of Hope Ministries shelter residents and recovery graduates. Walkers also had the opportunity to see a simulated tent camp and hear from Van, a current recovery resident at Hope Ministries. After walking, participants received a packet of special coupons and discounts from local businesses and entertainment venues and enjoyed a meal donated, prepared and served by the Iowa Barbeque Society.
Thank you so much to everyone who came out on Saturday to participate. Thank you also to our wonderful volunteers who helped our debut walk-a-thon run smoothly.
We are grateful for the support of these walk-a-thon Title Sponsors:
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KCCI Channel 8 |
Praise 940AM |
In addition, Hope Ministries thanks the following businesses who provided special services, coupons and discount packages for this year’s walk a thon:
Bella Italia, City of Pleasant Hill, Connxions Bookstore, Copper Creek 9, Event Decorators, Crystal Clear, Healing Touch Book and Bible, Hope Bargain Center, Hope Lutheran Church, Iowa Barbeque Society, John McLaughlin and Iowa Helicopter, KWKY 1050 AM, Life 107.1 KNWI, The New Golf Cars of Iowa, Okoboji Bar & Grill, The Orange Planet, Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, Pleasant Hill Hy-Vee, Pleasant Hill Parks & Recreation, Pleasant Hill Public Library, Prancing Paws Pet Boutique, Pulse 95.5 FM, QuikTrip, Signs Now, Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, Snap Fitness, Spirit Midwest, Wellspring Parable Christian Bookstore, WHO Radio.
A big thank you also goes to Andy Garman, sports director at KCCI Channel 8, who promoted and participated in our first annual walk-a-thon. Thank you!
We’re also thankful to volunteer photographers David Bailie and Jen Gustafson and volunteer videographer Brian Fatka who captured our walk-a-thon in pictures and on tape!
Click here for photos of our walk-a-thon.
Click here to see a video of our first-ever walk-a-thon.
And a very special thank you is in order for the Hope Ministries residents who shared their cardboard testimonies and chatted with walk-a-thon participants. This walk was for you and all the men, women and children served by Hope Ministries . . . we love you!
It’s not too late to help Hope Ministries help the homeless by donating to our walk-a-thon! Click here to give online toward Walk a Mile in Their Shoes.
With the success of our first annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon, we’re already looking ahead excitedly to next year’s event. “Our goal for next year is to triple the number of participants to 1,500 and create a massive 'Circle of Hope' with walkers linked hand-in-hand around Copper Creek Lake,” says Burrier. Plan now to be a part of our Second Annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event scheduled for Saturday, September 4, 2010.
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