Sunday, April 19, marks the second year the Color Classic 5K run will be hosted at Elizabethtown College, this year by the E-town Class of 2017. Registration, opened Feb. 1, is now closed. The price per runner is $30, though E-town students also can volunteer to help with the race. Several student clubs have been invited to have tables at the event for fundraising purposes. Last year, the race benefited the ARC of Lancaster, a group that advocates for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, however, the Joshua Group, a group that mentors and provides support for at-risk youth, is slated to benefit from approximately 50 percent of the profits. Runners and others have the chance to donate at registration.
The Joshua Group, a Harrisburg-based charity, focuses mainly on the Allison Hill neighborhood where it is located; Allison Hill has some of the highest unemployment, poverty and drop-out rates in Harrisburg. Along with their programs focused on children, the Joshua Group also offers a wide range of activities for all members of the community. Founded in 1998 by Kirk Hallett, the Joshua Group draws its inspiration from the biblical book of Joshua. In it, Joshua is chosen to lead his people after Moses; however, he is at first reluctant to do so. The story of Joshua living up to the potential others saw in him is reflected in the Joshua Group’s hope to bring out the greatness in often overlooked children.
I really [want to] cut a big check for the Joshua Group”
Currently, the majority of the Joshua Group’s projects and programs are through the Joshua Learning Center; the building was donated to the group and, after some renovation, finally opened in 2014. Some of the Joshua Group’s programs include an after school program, a SOS scholarship fund for high school students, a resource center for adults learners, half-day preschool and the Joshua farm. As half of the staff of the Joshua Group is from the area, themselves, they understand the needs of the locals: “Everything we offer, [they] cannot get anywhere else,” Deb Miller, part of the Education Support group, said.
Kirsten Ambrose, president of the E-town Class of 2017, hopes to raise a great deal of money for the Joshua Group and leave an impact on her local community. “I really [want to] cut a big check for the Joshua Group,” Ambrose said. To her, it is all about making this year as good as or even better than the last. In 2014, the Class of 2016 donated approximately $2,000 to the ARC of Lancaster, but Ambrose thinks her class can earn more by learning from them.
At the end of last year’s race, runners were given a questionnaire to determine how they felt about the 5K. The only question with lackluster response was about the pre-race entertainment, so Ambrose upped the ante by getting more groups to participate in the pre-race activities. Student a cappella Vocalign and dance group Global Beats plan to preform and help runners warm up. A DJ from 88.3 WWEC, the College’s radio station, also is scheduled.
To spread word about the event, the Class of 2017 placed posters across campus and decorated the Marketplace in colorful ribbons, a tradition started by the Class of 2016. There also was an announcement placed in Campus News and WWEC made mention. The class also tried to get the nearby community active by distributing fliers in Folklore Coffee and Co. and Giant.
The route for the Color Classic follows Mount Joy Street, Groff Avenue, Campus Road, and then traverses across campus to end back on College Avenue looping back to where the runners started. The April 19 check-in is planned for noon, and the race officially begins at 1 p.m. from Brinser Field.
Although the Color Classic has been a huge focus of the Class of 2017, as it spent the majority of last semester planning for it, the class also participated in Homecoming and small fundraising events on campus. The Class of 2017 has been wholly focused on two things: advocating for students’ rights and making the Color Classic great. Ambrose looks forward to helping plan Junior/Senior next year.