Natasha Tchir, Reporter
@ntchircourant
As 900 members of the New Canaan Community gathered in the NCHS parking lot last Saturday, April 28, they prepared to get covered in powdered paint as part of the New Canaan Scholarship Foundation’s second annual color run. While participants ran through the inflatable gates and got covered in a rainbow of colors, they raised over fifty-thousand dollars to award as scholarship for those seniors who had applied for them.
This event replaced the scholarship drive which had previously been used to collect the scholarship money. This year, many aspects of the Color Run expanded greatly from last year’s performance. Steffi Loomis, co-chair of the PTA and one of the organizers of the event, explained the variety of differences from last years run. “The Kids’ Dash had a lot more runners this year than last,” she said. “We also had two more color stations, for a total of 7, more water stations, and the most unpredictable highlight was the amazing weather.”
Due to the high outcome of the color run this year, NCSF is able to provide scholarships to many seniors. “All proceeds go directly to the deserving and qualified NCHS graduates who apply for scholarship money. It truly makes a big difference in so many kids’ lives,” she said.
Not only is this race beneficial to many of the seniors, but is a fun event for all to attend. Junior Cece Cronin, a member of the varsity girls lacrosse team, was a volunteer at the event. “The color was really fun because a lot of kids participated and I helped throw the color packets on them and give them temporary tattoos,” she said. “After the color run my hair was completely colored in pink and orange chalk and it was like that for the rest of the day, while my white shirt was basically a rainbow.”
Due to the success of the Color Run for the past two years, the NCSF will be organizing it again next year. “We really hope that more students will rally around this event by purchasing tickets and participating,” she said.
