Gene Haas Foundation to help Santa to the Sea Award Scholarships

OXNARD, Calif. - Dec. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- The Gene Haas Foundation has donated $3,000 to help the Santa to the Sea Scholarship Fund. In September, Santa to the Sea awarded 50 students continuing their education at Oxnard College with $500 scholarships. The donation from Gene Haas Foundation will go towards students entering Oxnard college students next fall.

$5 from each participant’s registration fee, along with grants from the Gene Haas Foundation and the Oxnard College foundation fund the $500 scholarships. Since 2010, the organization has given 166 students $500 scholarships at Oxnard College through the Oxnard College Foundation.

“One of our missions at Santa to the Sea is to involve, engage and give back to the community” said Mike Barber founder and race organizer of Santa to the Sea. “The Neighborhood Cheer Challenge shows just how vibrant the city of Oxnard and its neighborhoods are.”

This year’s 6^th Annual Santa to the Sea half marathon, 2-person relay, 5K and 1K kids fun runs will be held Dec. 8. All races start at 8 a.m., except the kids 1K, which begins at 8:45 a.m. The half marathon begins at the giant Santa located at 2801 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard, and ends at the Marine Emporium Landing in Channel Islands Harbor. The 5K and 1K Kids Fun Runs start and finish at the Marine Emporium Landing. All participants must register before the race; there is no race-day registration. Runners can register online at www.santatothesea.com.

Santa to the Sea is a nonprofit event born out of a desire to give back to the community. What started in 2003 as a toy drive to celebrate the relocation of the world’s largest Santa Claus from Carpinteria to Oxnard, has grown into a robust running event, toy drive, and community fundraiser. Santa to the Sea includes a sanctioned half marathon and a 2-person half marathon relay, plus 5K run and 1K kids fun run. The Santa to the Sea Scholarship Fund partners with the Oxnard College Foundation to award $500 scholarships to local high school students and adults continuing their education at Oxnard College.