Rainbow Boosterthon to promote ‘Be Friends, Don’t Bully’

Boosterthon at Rainbow Elementary School will end with a fun run, when parents and teachers join students in activities. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Nine upcoming days at Rainbow Elementary School will raise funds while inspiring students to live healthy, character-filled lives.

The Boosterthon Fun Run starts at Rainbow on Sept. 19. Boosterthon is a national fundraising program adopted at more than 1,000 schools annually. Boosterthon allows a school to swap product sales for fundraising with a profitable fitness event.

This year’s character theme, Camp High Five, will challenge 700,000 students in 22 states to move from classmates to friends. Young adult counselors from Boosterthon will work on-site with students in a summer camp setting.

“Our team motivates students to get excited about fitness, leadership and character,” Boosterthon founder and president Chris Carneal said. “We love watching schools exceed their financial goals with our program, but what really fires us up is developing leaders at the elementary-school level.”

With Camp High Five, character lessons will teach the value of respecting others and showing sportsmanship — not bullying. Interactive character videos, catchy songs and a new book will reinforce the message.

This year, schools will fight hunger in America with Boosterthon’s High Five Meal Drive. Partnering with the non-profit Feeding America, Boosterthon will donate five meals for every student who reaches the giveback reward level.

Founded in 2001, Boosterthon quickly reinvented the fundraising industry by eliminating door-to-door product sales by students. “Instead, they benefit from a fun, interactive program that impacts schools and develops leaders,” Carneal said.

“The program culminates in a Fun Run. Students are invited to run laps together for which they have gathered pledges,” Boosterthon vice president of marketing Brett Trapp. “It’s a high-energy and interactive community event with parents, educators, students and Boosterthon team members celebrating the students’ accomplishments.”

Boosterthon headquarters are in Alpharetta, Ga. For more information, visit boosterthon.com.