Running Away for Good

Photograph by Rich Williams

In 1997, a pair of donors — a married couple who asked to be referred to as Old Bill and Mrs. Old Bill — approached the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, in Wyoming, with an idea that would combine two big interests of local residents — their love of the outdoors and their philanthropic spirit — in a fund-raising event.

With a pledge of $2-million over four years in matching funds, the donors set in motion Old Bill’s Fun Run, which has quickly become Jackson Hole’s largest annual charity race, raising millions of dollars for more than 160 local non-profit organizations.

Runners and walkers enter one of several competitions — a 10-kilometer race, a five-kilometer race, and a two-kilometer walk — and solicit sponsorships on behalf of their favorite charity. Many dress in costumes that represent their organization. One year, for example, a runner for an arts group dressed as an Alexander Calder mobile.

The first year’s race attracted 680 participants and raised $1.8-million. This year’s event, which took place earlier this month, drew 1,381 runners and walkers and raised more than $2.9-million.

To be eligible, a charity must be located in Jackson Hole and work for the benefit of the city and its residents. And it must have at least one participant in the race. Each charity receives all of the donations made in its name by sponsors, plus up to $25,000 to match those gifts. Contributions are made to the community foundation, and then distributed to the charities.

Some charities have been able to raise their entire annual budgets through the run, allowing them to put less time into seeking donations and more into running their programs, says Clare Payne Symmons, executive director of the community foundation.

Here, students from Jackson Hole High School, linked by a giant ribbon of fabric, run to raise money for the school’s cross-country track team.