09/29/2016
Many years ago, The Jared F. Purton foundation was formed to make a positive impact on our community by promoting local volunteerism. After many, many years we are now closing our doors. I had the great honor of founding this charity and running it with several amazing people both in the past and present.
We were entirely volunteer run and all our money went toward holding the Good On You 5K races (to connect race participants with charities) and donating to established charities. The causes were diverse from drunk driving prevention to feeding the homeless to animal rescue to women's shelters to literacy promotion to advocating for children impacted by HIV/AIDS, etc...the list goes on and on. It was inspiring to be around so many non-profits that are touching people's hearts. There is so much good that people are trying to do in this world!
Overall, it has been truly a phenomenal experience. Having never run a charity before, we went in blind and had to learn along the way...but we were always driven by love and kindness! Did we get anything in return? Yes!! We had the immense privilege of seeing the same love and kindness reflected in our community and all who participated in our events over the years! When Jared, our name sake, was killed by a drunk driver many years ago, this broken world of ours lost an immense force of good. We founded this charity to continue on in Jared's spirit and make a difference in our community as he did. Jared was never a victim in life, he always had a firm belief that there was a way to find the positive and to uplift those around him. May we all remember the unlimited potential for kindness within us and that we all have the power to make significant changes for good in the lives of others.
Thanks to all of you for your support over the years! And thank you to all the amazing board members both past and present: Alana, Dave, E-rock, Helen, Jeanette, Kiyomi, Melissa, Nicolette, and Uyenja! If you are fortunate to know even one of these tremendous people, consider yourself blessed...I sure feel that way!
Silvia
