Geist Half Marathon Grants $9,600 to Local Schools

April 1, 2010 - PRLog -- Geist Half Marathon Inc. organizers announced today that six schools were granted moneys last month totaling $9,600 to fund health and wellness initiatives in Geist area schools. This brings the total disbursement from the 2009 running of the St.Vincent Geist Half Marathon Presented by Comcast to $45,600 over the last six months.


St. Simon the Apostle ($1,500), Fishers Junior High ($1,600), Indian Creek Elementary ($2,000), Hamilton Southeastern Junior High ($2,000), Woodbrook Elementary ($500) and Holy Cross Lutheran ($2,000) schools were all named beneficiaries from the recently announced Geist Half Marathon Grant Program.

“All these schools were either developing new health and wellness programs or expanding current programs,” said Tom Britt, president and founding board member of the Geist Half Marathon.

Holy Cross Lutheran School which has grades kindergarten through 4, received $2,000 to fund their Holy Cross Blaze Running Club, purchase pedometers and buy miscellaneous gym equipment for their new gymnasium.

"Timing of this gift was perfect," said Laura Brisben, co-coordinator of the after school running club. "We need so many things and these dollars will go to great use to get our kids active."

Previous grantee Fishers Junior High School requested an additional $1,600 to purchase two spinning bikes to expand their wellness program. Students exercise on rowing machines against each other and even other schools through a live video feed.

"We received a grant from the Geist Half last year to kick off our health and wellness program," said Andrea McMurtry, Health and Wellness Department Chair at Fishers Junior High School. "Since all of our funding comes from outside the school, this money is critical to our growth and success."

Schools or groups that wish to participate in this year's 3rd annual St.Vincent Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Comcast are encouraged to visit the www.GeistHalf.com website and click on the "school program" link. In previous years, over 3,500 school-aged children have participated through this outreach program.

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The Geist Half Marathon Inc. is an Indiana non-profit corporation 501©3 organized to inspire health and wellness in the children surrounding Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis, Indiana.