America First Credit Union Strolls for a Cure In Support of West Haven Elementary Cancer Walk
Credit union encourages community and public to participate during ‘Survivor’s Walk’ at Eighth Annual Event May 15
Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union, in support of West Haven Elementary School, will sponsor the eighth annual West Haven Elementary Hawk Walk from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 15. Hosted by West Haven students, the mini Relay-for-Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. America First will donate cookies, bottled water, a live DJ and $5 for every student walking from 7 to 8 a.m. A ‘Survivor’s Walk’ will be held at 8:45 a.m. Since its inception in 2007, the Hawk Walk has raised more than $41,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The annual event held in May is designed to encourage students and individuals to learn the principle of generosity. West Haven Elementary has continued to support the Hawk Walk by implementing donation programs across campus. Once a month, the school encourages students to participate in ‘wear a hat’ to school day, which allows them to get involved by donating $1 to the cause. Delivery and district workers are also invited to participate by donating $1 if they are wearing a hat on campus.
“The Hawk Walk is an event especially important to our employees and their families,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “This year, we’re encouraging cancer survivors from throughout the community to partake in a Survivor’s Walk’ and join us in this great cause. We’re honored to give $5 to every student walking, as we all know someone who is affected by this disease.”
Beginning May 11, West Haven will send fliers inviting the students’ families and friends to donate the week leading up to the Hawk Walk. A friendly competition between classes will up the ante, with a traveling ‘Golden Sneaker’ award for the two classes (grades four through six and kindergarten to third), raising the most money each day.
The Hawk Walk began in 2007 when then West Haven sixth grader, Garrett Gallegos, and his mother, Tammy, who is a Senior Vice President at America First, walked together in a Relay-for-Life. Gallegos asked if they could start a similar effort at his school to help his teacher who had two sons diagnosed with cancer. Things snowballed from there as other students wanted to lend support and raise funds for the cancer society. That first year, West Haven fifth and sixth graders held the first mini Relay-For-Life Hawk Walk.
West Haven Elementary is located at 4385 South 3900 West, West Haven, Utah 84401. For more information on how to donate, please call 801-452-4960 or 801-452-4979.
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