MONROE - Frank Pivonka, president of the Monroe High School Booster Club, always searches for creative fundraising ideas to support athletic programs.
Pivonka had an idea of hosting a 5K run this summer.
"One of the new board members said, "Why don't we do a mud run?'" Pivonka said. "I'm really excited about it. It's going to be a festive and party atmosphere."
The MHS Booster Club, in conjunction with the Merit Center, will host the Cheesemaker Mud Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 21. There will be a 3K and a 5K Mud Run with obstacles. The Cheesemaker Mud Run will start at the Merit Center and runners will make their way through the Monroe Industrial Park on the city's north side before finishing at the Merit Center. The funds raised will be split between the MHS Booster Club and the Merit Center.
"All of the money will go towards Monroe sports programs and the money for the Merit Center will educate firefighters in the region," Pivonka said. "It could be our biggest fundraiser. We hope it can be something we can continue to do every year if it goes well."
Registration is at 8 a.m. The cost is $50 per person in advance or $60 per person the day of the race. Registration can be completed online at www.cheesemakerboosterclub.com.
Lane Heins, deputy chief of the Monroe Fire Department, wants to showcase what the Merit Center offers the community as a home to train police, firefighters and EMS. Heins said the money raised will go towards the development of a new classroom at the Merit Center for training sessions.
"I think it's a great opportunity to get public awareness of the Merit Center," Heins said. "I think with the more exposure we get, it's a positive. We want people to come look at the facility, see what we have done and what we can provide for the community. It's really marketing the Merit Center."
Many of the firefighting classroom training meetings are conducted at Fire Station One or Fire Station Two.
Heins said there is then some downtime before they get to the Merit Center to put the classroom learning to use in a training facility. He said that is why they would like to develop a classroom at the Merit Center.
"It's going to be a great day when people can come out and learn about two organizations in the city," Heins said of the Cheesemaker Mud Run. Gummies DJ will provide music during and after the run.
Pivonka said the MHS Booster Club is hoping to have at least 300 runners.
"If we can get 500 runners, that is $25,000," he said. "It may be a little aggressive for us in the first year. That's a huge fundraiser for us."
The MHS Booster Club hasn't determined what they will do with the money they raise.
Two years ago, the MHS Booster Club paid about $10,000 to have the high school gym painted.
"I haven't met with each coach to know what is on their wish list," Pivonka said. "It's (paying to have the gym painted) is not something the booster club usually does. We want to be ready and have the money when there are requests like that."
Pivonka said adding lights at the baseball field and getting a trailer for the football team to haul equipment are two projects that have come up in previous years.
The MHS Booster Club created a website to handle the online registrations.
"It's still in its infancy, but people can register online," Pivonka said.
Pivonka had an idea of hosting a 5K run this summer.
"One of the new board members said, "Why don't we do a mud run?'" Pivonka said. "I'm really excited about it. It's going to be a festive and party atmosphere."
The MHS Booster Club, in conjunction with the Merit Center, will host the Cheesemaker Mud Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 21. There will be a 3K and a 5K Mud Run with obstacles. The Cheesemaker Mud Run will start at the Merit Center and runners will make their way through the Monroe Industrial Park on the city's north side before finishing at the Merit Center. The funds raised will be split between the MHS Booster Club and the Merit Center.
"All of the money will go towards Monroe sports programs and the money for the Merit Center will educate firefighters in the region," Pivonka said. "It could be our biggest fundraiser. We hope it can be something we can continue to do every year if it goes well."
Registration is at 8 a.m. The cost is $50 per person in advance or $60 per person the day of the race. Registration can be completed online at www.cheesemakerboosterclub.com.
Lane Heins, deputy chief of the Monroe Fire Department, wants to showcase what the Merit Center offers the community as a home to train police, firefighters and EMS. Heins said the money raised will go towards the development of a new classroom at the Merit Center for training sessions.
"I think it's a great opportunity to get public awareness of the Merit Center," Heins said. "I think with the more exposure we get, it's a positive. We want people to come look at the facility, see what we have done and what we can provide for the community. It's really marketing the Merit Center."
Many of the firefighting classroom training meetings are conducted at Fire Station One or Fire Station Two.
Heins said there is then some downtime before they get to the Merit Center to put the classroom learning to use in a training facility. He said that is why they would like to develop a classroom at the Merit Center.
"It's going to be a great day when people can come out and learn about two organizations in the city," Heins said of the Cheesemaker Mud Run. Gummies DJ will provide music during and after the run.
Pivonka said the MHS Booster Club is hoping to have at least 300 runners.
"If we can get 500 runners, that is $25,000," he said. "It may be a little aggressive for us in the first year. That's a huge fundraiser for us."
The MHS Booster Club hasn't determined what they will do with the money they raise.
Two years ago, the MHS Booster Club paid about $10,000 to have the high school gym painted.
"I haven't met with each coach to know what is on their wish list," Pivonka said. "It's (paying to have the gym painted) is not something the booster club usually does. We want to be ready and have the money when there are requests like that."
Pivonka said adding lights at the baseball field and getting a trailer for the football team to haul equipment are two projects that have come up in previous years.
The MHS Booster Club created a website to handle the online registrations.
"It's still in its infancy, but people can register online," Pivonka said.
