Michael ’ s Mile Color Powder Fun Run Proceeds with (literal) Flying Colors By Jayson Woods, Programs & Facilities Supervisor, Orange County Parks & Recreation June 5, 2021 marked both the return of the Michael ’ s Mile Color Powder Fun Run to Booster Park and the return of larger scale special events to our program offerings. Through COVID restrictions, Parks & Recreation had been able to continue to offer events like disc golf tournaments and even the Liberty Ride horseback trail ride (in a much - reduced fashion); but this was the first event to exceed 30 participants in over a year. In fact, it exceeded all prior years of this event, with nearly 100 participants joining in. This success was the result of the partnership between Orange County Parks & Recreation, the Orange County Office on Youth, and the new Orange Healthy Community Action Team (or HCAT). The HCAT took the event to a new level by assisting in planning, promotion, and volunteers, as well as including fun details like an inflatable start/finish line, commemorative sunglasses, and ice pops for after the run. The fun run dates back to 2014 but has changed significantly since then. Originally a school aged kids ’ timed run, it has evolved into an untimed, family - inclusive color powder fun run! The color powder idea came from a partnership with the LGMS Leo Club in 2017. Throughout, the goal of this event has been to support healthy lifestyle choices among our youth by contributing proceeds to the Michael ’ s Gift Youth Activities Scholarship program. This program is operated by the Office on Youth and allows families receiving assistance to apply for funds to offset the cost of activities like youth sports, camps, and other enrichment programs for their children. The scholarship and the run are both named in honor of Michael Ridgeway, a local child with a big heart who tragically passed away at the age of six. His family and friends believed the best way to keep his memory alive was to create a program to carry on his caring attitude for generations to come, and Michael ’ s Gift was born. The success of this event will help this goal go the extra mile.
The organizers would like to express deep gratitude to everyone who participated and volunteered to make this event the best yet. We look forward to outdoing ourselves in 2022!
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