TEAM NEF Shatters All Records

This past Sunday, the Naperville Education Foundation’s (NEF) TEAM NEF members took to the streets to raise awareness for the Foundation and funds for the students in Naperville 203 by participating as Charity Heroes in the Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon and 5K. Runners or walkers, all in their signature blue and green TEAM NEF t-shirts, gathered at the starting line braving the cold temperatures to finish out their commitment for the cause.

As runners crossed the finish line hoping to celebrate a new personal record, TEAM NEF celebrated its own personal record shattering past TEAM NEF efforts, with a team of 212 runners and walkers that included 98 Naperville 203 staff, more than 126 volunteers supporting the TEAM out on the course and in race day headquarters, and raising over $80,000 from more than 1,000 individual donors, with donations still rolling in. TEAM NEF 2018 has raised more than the past two years combined and nearly tripled the number of participants from last year.

“This is beyond amazing,” said Wendy Goettsch, NEF Executive Director. “To think just 5 years ago we started with 28 runners and only 6 schools represented. This year, every District 203 school, including the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center and the Connections program, was represented out on that course. To see the outpouring of support and generosity from our community is overwhelming.”

Making this more remarkable, this year marked the first time that half of each TEAM NEF member’s funds raised will support the member’s designated Naperville 203 school, with the other half going to district-wide programs supported by NEF. All TEAM NEF members agreed to raise a minimum of $203 each. “It’s really a win-win,” said Martin Tracey, Naperville 203 parent of a student at Mill Street Elementary School. “It just feels good to know that this will help out the students at my daughter’s school and throughout the district.”

“We have such a giving community. I am blown away by the outpouring of love that we’ve seen and the energy that has come through,” added Goettsch, “and I can’t wait to see what happens next year!”

TEAM NEF consists of parents, community members, students, teachers and staff, who committed to running or walking the Naperville Half Marathon or 5K as Charity Heroes to raise awareness for the Naperville Education Foundation (NEF) and, raise funds for the students in Naperville 203 schools. To learn more about TEAM NEF or the Naperville Education Foundation, visit www.nef203.org.