I know the last couple of days have not felt too much like summer, but remember it can always be worse! Have you seen the map of the high temperatures across the country? I recall the first summer we lived here (2020), it reached those triple-digit temperatures, so I’m happy with the cooler weather, even if my tomato plants are not. However, the cooler weather makes it the perfect opportunity to enjoy some outdoor events while supporting our local nonprofit organizations!
Celebrate Capital Lakefair
This week of course, is the start of Capital Lakefair. While most folks think of the carnival rides, parade, and fireworks it is also good to remember that Capital Lakefair is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Olympia, Washington. While widely known as Olympia’s annual summer festival, Lakefair operates year-round to celebrate and give back to our community in Thurston County. According to their website, the festival is a volunteer-driven organization governed by a voting member body known as the Capitalarians, a group of individuals that show their love and dedication to the people of Thurston County by donating their time and effort.
Each year as part of the Scholarship Program, a new group of young women from area high schools join the Lakefair Royalty tradition. The Court participates in all aspects of the organization throughout the season. This includes local activities such as the donation drive by Little Red School House, Special Needs Prom, and events held by other area nonprofit service groups. They also visit locations across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia as the Lakefair Float rides in parades hosted by other community festivals. In addition, each princess receives a $3,000 scholarship to be applied to any type of higher education, and the selected queen receives an additional $2,000. Funding for Capital Lakefair is provided by contributions from individuals and businesses in our community, financial and/or in-kind donations by our sponsors, and operations from the annual five-day festival, which starts this week. The mission of Capital Lakefair is to provide a family-friendly community festival annually in the 3rd week of July as well as:
So, between rides and bites of your cotton candy, think of the good you are doing by supporting a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits!
Before that carnival ride or that cotton candy you may want to get your running shoes on for the LakeFair Races 2023. The races are sponsored by the Lake Run Organization and the Rotary Club of Olympia and includes a Half Marathon, 8K, and 3K. Funds raised benefit Thurston County community organizations, local high school cross country, and track and field groups.
Starting Gate!
According to the history on their website, in 1975, the Lakefair Races were directed by the Olympia Rain Runners running club. The races have varied in distances over the years with distances of two miles, 3k, 8k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon. When The Olympia Rain Runners dissolved, the races were absorbed by the Capital City Marathon Association. After a few years, the Marathon Association, wanting to focus on its own races, turned over the Lakefair Races to two local Capital High School coaches. They created a new nonprofit, the Lake Run Organization, a member of the Road Runners Club of America.
In 2016, the Olympia Downtown Rotary Club approached the Lake Run Organization to partner in sponsoring the events. The following year, the Lake Run Organization in partnership with the Olympia Downtown Rotary Club rebranded the three-race event as the “Olympia Lakefair Races”. This effort aims to continue the tradition of the races, honor the running past of Olympia, and support high school running and other nonprofits supported by the Lake Run Organization and Olympia Downtown Rotary.
While the Lake Run Organization is a separate nonprofit organization from Capital Lakefair, both organizations have traditionally held the events during the third week in July, with the Olympia Lakefair Races on Saturday morning, starting in downtown, and finishing on Fifth Avenue at Heritage Park.
Other than sharing the dates and donating funds to local area youth, the two organizations are not related.
The Lake Run Organization welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, and have multiple age, wheelchair and disabled divisions and awards. Sponsors have the unique opportunity to connect with the Thurston County community, build brand awareness and show your company’s support of our community and our region’s history.
Online registration is still open at https://www.olympialakefairraces.org. Runners of all ages and experience levels are welcome to participate and kids (14 and under) can race the 3K for free.
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
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