2024 Donut Dash Recap
It was a blast Tuesday night at the Donut Dash! A huge thanks to everyone for bringing such positive energy and excitement. We more than doubled our size from last year! (With people & donations!)
Check out the photos here, and while you're at it, please join the Facebook group.
I never know exactly how many people are going to show up, it’s a free fun run/walk event after all, but it was cold. (36 degrees) What an exciting crowd last night we had!
Fun Facts:
The farthest distance someone came from was Frank Mini from Boyne City. And there were so many of my Rockford peeps. Thanks to the Rockford Squire for sharing our event multiple times.
To my knowledge nine people ate all three paczki along the route. It hurts just thinking about it, doesn’t it?!
More than 180 paczki was consumed last night!
Pictured is Frank showing me on his map hand where he came from. ;)
A snap shop of all our participants home base locations.
A big shoutout to these amazing folks:
We couldn’t have pulled this off without the support of Walt & Amy Gutowski. They are dedicated to the WestSide Community and have encouraged planning community events as part of my work at Swift Printing.
Our wonderful neighbors at Bridge Street Market generously donated funds and the paczki. Huge thanks to Mitch Cook (manager) and Hannah Suydan (marketing) for their localist approach to grocery.
Gazelle Sports graciously opened their store in the perfect downtown location for our WestSide Stride course (almost exactly 1.5 miles in). Thanks to Rebecca Wilkin and her team for hosting the second stop and providing prizes.
The Score sponsored the event as well this year. Thanks Joe Locke and his team for giving to the cause.
Grand Rapids Community Media Center donated an awesome raffle prize. Thank you Phil Tower and his team.
We packed the house at Jolly Pumpkin. They donated raffle items as well. Thank you!
While this event is more about the fun vibes, this year we raised our highest amount to date: $2,000. Doubling what we raised in 2023.
Chief Eric Winstrom made good on his promise from last year and came out and ran with us along with many other officers. You guys are awesome!
Holly Jackson, chairman of the Grand Rapids Police Foundation, shared a bit about the foundation, and Deputy Kristen Rogers shared about the foundation as well. Thank you!
Thanks to the Slaydon boys for working the raffle at the end of the night.
You can listen to Shelley Irwin, Shari Glass (development director for the GRPD FOundation) & me talk about the Donut Dash on the Shelley Irwin Show here.
It was truly amazing to see so many people excited about this eating and running/walking event that supports the police foundation. Every year, you all energize me to keep this event going. Thank you, and here's to next year's Donut Dash 5K! It will be here before you know it.
Please save the date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Keep on moving,
Jessica Gutowski Slaydon
Want to know the history of the Donut Dash? Read it here.
