Get Burbed fun run to raise money for District 25 schools
Get your motor running in the first "Get Burbed Challenge" fun run to raise money for school District 25 in Arlington Heights.
Formerly known as the Just Move It Challenge, the Get Burbed Challenge brings together Get Burbed, a division of @properties, and ABC/25, a nonprofit organization that awards grants for teachers at nine area schools, to promote healthy living in a fun family event that celebrates the Arlington Heights community.
"Get Burbed is a huge advocate of healthy kids contributing to a healthy community with a good education," said Holly Connors, founder of Get Burbed, and @ properties. "Education is about more than classrooms and homework, it's about being a part of something bigger. And this event ties in all of those things, fun and fitness and making our community better."
The race through downtown Arlington Heights consists of either a 5K or one-mile run or walk, with awards given to the top three male and female finishers in more than a dozen age brackets, from under 4-year-olds to over 60-year-olds. Annual participants clomping through the tree-lined streets of Arlington Heights ranges from 700 to 1,000, according to race organizers. Some walk, some run, all seem to have fun. Chip timing will be new this year. An expo and awards ceremony follows the April 13 event, with music, liquid refreshments and a silent auction with unique gift baskets and experiences.
The $35 fee; $25 for ages 17 and younger, includes a race T-shirt designed by a District 25 student.
Proceeds go to the ABC/25 Foundation, which in school year 2018-2019 distributed more than $69,000 to teachers in nine District 25 schools serving the Arlington Heights community. That money goes to teachers or principals who submit grants for initiatives in the classroom that don't fall under the normal allocation of school resources.
"We feel these grants can help foster ideas and support new innovative ideas for educating our kids," said Diane Liigsoo, race co-director and ABC/25 board of directors.
For example, a few years ago, a teacher wrote a grant for iPads in the classroom, and ABC/25 was able to fund that grant, Liigsoo said. Over time those initiatives grow and can become standard, such as Chromebooks now for every student in District 25's South and Thomas middle schools.
"Our schools are such an elemental part of what makes Arlington Heights such a great place to live," added Connors, who lives, works and sends her kids to school in Arlington Heights District 25. "We love it here, our kids love it here, and we want to continue to support a quality education system and sting community roots."
As exclusive naming sponsor, Connors and the Get Burbed team have agreed to a four-year commitment to sponsor the race, as well as promote the event broadly in the Northwest suburbs and @properties network. As part of Chicago's largest residential brokerage, Get Burbed got a brick and mortar office in downtown Arlington Heights in 2018, serving as the anchor of @properties growth into the suburbs. Connors and her team of dedicated full-time brokers who also live, work and play in Arlington Heights, are keeping pace with Get Burbed's growth as well as with their children.
"There's no way I can keep up with them this year," Connors said of her fifth and fourth grade challengers.
The Get Burbed Challenge will be held Saturday, April 13, at South Middle School, 400 S. Highland Ave., in Arlington Heights. The 5K begins at 8 a.m.; the one mile fun run-walk at 9 a.m. Registration is $35 for adults; and $25 for ages 17 and younger. Register at www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=CY2V1H7.
For information, visit www.abc25challenge.org.