Are You Ready for Ghosts & Goblins 2022?
September 2022
Get your family, friends and teams together and join thousands of Carmel Education Foundation (CEF) supporters for the 14th Annual Ghosts and Goblins race to support Carmel Clay Schools (CCS)!
This year’s Ghosts and Goblins will kick off on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Carmel High School, 520 E. Main St., Carmel, Indiana, and runners or walkers may choose to participate in either a 5k or 2k race, both of which are timed. Prizes will be awarded for the 5k.
Race Day Logistics
Courses begin and end at Carmel High School, where there will be music, refreshments, prizes and entertainment. Registration includes a timed entry bib. Strollers are welcomed on either course, but pets are not allowed for their safety.
Please also bring your outgrown or unwanted shoes to the race to donate to CEF’s national partner, Soles4Souls, where your shoes will be turned into opportunity by providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Soles4Souls repurposes products to supply its micro-enterprise, disaster relief and direct assistance programs. Since 2006, it has distributed more than 51 million pairs of shoes in 129 countries. For more information, go to www.soles4souls.org.
WISH TV Morning Anchor and Carmel High School graduate Scott Sander is returning as the official emcee and will help fire you up for a fun race!
Costumes are encouraged and have become a beloved tradition of the Ghosts & Goblins race!
The Impact of the Money and Awareness Raised
CEF Executive Director Jennifer Penix spoke about the impact of the money and awareness raised from CEF’s fundraisers — including Ghosts & Goblins — has on CEF’s ability to award an array of scholarships and grants.
“We’re coming off a very good year [last year] based on what our [previous] Ghost & Goblins and Taste of Carmel fundraisers accomplished,” Penix shared. “We have been able to start some new initiatives and provide resources for students to have lifelong learning opportunities. First and foremost, the success of that was made possible because we’ve had successful fundraisers and because the community supports us. Secondly, we have a dynamic leadership organization not only within our board, but our committees are strong with additional community volunteers.”
A strong testament to Penix’s statement about dedicated community volunteers is the return of one of original organizers of the first Ghosts & Goblins race that was held 14 years ago. Carmel resident Dana Green has returned to assist the planning committee for this year’s Ghosts & Goblins race. Green is still a staunch supporter of CEF’s mission and is excited to help grow this year’s race registration numbers to the target goal of 3,000.
“I joined the [CEF] board in 2011, and within a few years, I became chair of Ghosts & Goblins,” Green said. “I love the whole idea of the race being centered around the students, the teachers and the mission of CEF. Teachers, parents and students know that we are here, walking alongside of them, and there a lot of people behind the scenes on the foundation working for their benefit. Jenn [Penix] has done an amazing job taking this [race] to the next level, and leaders like Leslie [Teskey] and the other board members continue to raise funds and awareness, which is critical. And what they do with funds and the time and effort going to how the funds are spent really maximizes [CEF’s] resources.”
Opportunities Made Possible because of Businesses and People Like You!
Penix announced that CEF launched a new student grant program earlier this year that has been dubbed the “Great Idea!” Grant program.
“We know that students are phenomenal idea generators,” Penix expressed. “We want to support them through this grant program that is open for K–12 students. If a student has an idea that they think can improve any aspect of their school community, we invite them to share that idea with a teacher so the teacher can be their mentor through the grant process and help make their idea into a reality. We anticipate awarding up to 10 student grants this year.”
So, don’t wait! Register for this year’s Ghosts & Goblins race at ghostsandgoblinsrun.com and let’s help break of record of 3,000 registrants! For more information and/or to make a donation to CEF, please visit ccs.k12.in.us/foundation.
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Joe Gilbert