JACKSON, WY— Christmastime isn’t the only “Season of Giving” in Jackson. In fact. September is Jackson’s philanthropic time to shine.
To date, Old Bill’s Fun Run has raised more than $150 million for Jackson nonprofits. So last Saturday, September 8, was about more than just a fun run. It was a chance for more than 20o nonprofits to thank their community for their support, and raise money for some of the critical services they provide.
Critical services like housing 19 separate nonprofits, under one nonprofit roof, said Jeremy Gaitan. Gaitan does maintenance at the Center for the Arts, and he says it’s more than just one full-time job—it’s three. “It’s a lot of work. We work full time—three of us, 40 hours a week— to keep it going.”
So Old Bill’s is important to him, he said, because it “really helps us keep the place running and going all the time.”
To Dancers’ Workshop, Old Bill’s is about community. It’s a chance to share what they do, “a chance to represent,” said Kate Kosharek. Which is just what Dancers’ Workshop students and instructors did 15 minutes before the race took off, leading runners, walkers and observers in a warm up dance.
“It was fun to see crowd get into it and participate,” said DW’s Marketing & Communications Diretor Christa Johnson.
Dancers’ Workshop uses Old Bill’s donations for students’ financial aid, visiting performances and workshops, and to help keep tuition rates lower—among other things, Johnson explained. Revenue from class tuition and ticket sales only covers about 40 percent of “what it takes to run DW’s programming.” The rest comes from community donations. “Anything and everything helps,” Johnson said.
Central Wyoming College, meanwhile, uses Old Bill’s funds to provide scholarship for both CWC and University of Wyoming students. “It’s a really good program,” said Outreach Coordinator Sue Heffron. “It’s really helpful for our students.”
CWC Sue Heffron – It’s a really good program, we raise money for our scholarships for both CWC and UW, so it’s really helpful for our students.
PAWS Executive Director Amy Romaine had a different word to describe what Old Bill’s means to her: generostiy.
PAWS supports nine programs that benefit pets in Teton County, from spay and neuter vouchers—PAWS has already supported 744 surgeries this year—to emergency response to the mutt mitts you hopefully use to pick up after your dog. PAWS has distributed 2.1 million “free” mutt mitts, said PAWS Program Director Jess Far.
“They’re not free,” Farr laughed. “They’re free to you, but they’re not free to us.”
“[Old Bill’s] supports everything,” Romaine said. “We couldn’t do what we do without Old Bill’s.”
Old Bill’s is still matching any and all donations made to local participating nonprofits through Friday, September 14. Donate at OldBills.org.
