Event History
THE HISTORY OF RUN FOR D103 TO NOW
In 2009, The Parent Teacher Organization of Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103 identified a tangible and attainable need in School District 103: the renovation to the Daniel Wright Junior High School athletic fields that remained unusable to the students and community for much of the school year due to poor drainage and grading issues. Our junior high school children were required to have gym/recess inside or "only on the blacktop" for over half of the school year due to these issues. The District 103 track and field team were forced to cancel meets on a regular basis in the spring due to rain. The District 103 soccer teams were unable to play home games at home and instead forced to play in Vernon Hills.
The fields were in dire need of grading and installation of proper drainage in order to be functional for use by our students. The cost of this project was estimated at $325,000.
In an effort to help expedite the timing of this project through financial funding assistance, District 103 PTO created the Run for the Fields 5K Run/Walk. The first Run for the Fields 5k was held in May 2011 and helped provide financial assistance to the school district in order to begin the field renovation which began in that summer of 2011.
The renovation to the fields was completed and ultimately provided 2 soccer fields, a baseball field, a 1/3-mile walking/jogging path and areas for other field activities. In 2012/2013, our soccer teams and cross-country teams were able to use our home field for the first time in many years!
The renovation has been instrumental in offering opportunities for the students to engage in fitness activities during gym, recess, after-school activities, and other sporting events. In 2014, we completed our original obligated annual budgeted funding to the renovation of DW’s athletic fields.
While the fields renovation was completed and funded in 2014, other outdoor recreational needs had arisen at our other elementary schools. In 2013, Sprague School needed grading and new playground equipment and grounds. Thus, the PTO for 2013/2014 committed to funding $100,000 over the following two years to Laura B. Sprague School for new playground equipment and grounds. The playground incorporated wheelchair access to all levels of the playground to be ADA compliant and accessible. They installed brand new Miracle Playground Equipment over the summer with an amazing 10-foot deck. Over 1000 cubic feet of soil was moved to accommodate the new equipment and grounds. The entire project included 4,500 sf of synthetic deck and 8,800 sf of new sidewalk.
The 2015 and 2016 events focused on sponsoring many of the D103 staff and teachers' needs: for $25,000, PTO purchased a new StarLab, which aligns with several grades' science curriculum and educated students in the area of astronomy. $15,000 from the 2014 runs' proceeds covered very much needed sound systems at Daniel Wright JHS stage and band room as well as several educational tech solutions for our other two schools.
Even though the 5k race was renamed from Run for the Fields to Run for D103 to broaden its fundraising goals, PTO's commitment to providing our children with recreational programs and equipment has remained the same.
Our District-wide event gathers people from all over the area - parents, children, grandparents, friends - amounting to over 600 registrants year after year, coming together for a great cause: raising funds to improve the quality of our schools! And with up to 60 amazing volunteers, tirelessly working together to make this happen, this is the one community event that you do not want to miss!
For more information about District 103 PTO, please go to the PTO website.
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Here are the fund-raising goals PTO has accomplished so far:2011 - 2014 - Renovation of the athletic fields at Daniel Wright JHS.
- 2013 & 2014 - New playground equipment at Laura B. Sprague School (total cost of $100,000)
- 2015 - A new StarLab, which aligns with several grades' science curriculum and in educating students in the area of astronomy.
- 2016 - Sound system upgrade at Daniel Wright JHS stage and band room as well as several educational tech solutions for our other two schools.
- 2017 - Consumer & Family Science lab improvements.
- 2018 - Reconstructed sound system at Half Day School used regularly during PE classes, fitness events, assemblies, presentations, and talent shows.
- 2019 - Innovative "face out” shelving system in the Sprague School library.
- 2020 - Event canceled due to COVID-19.
- 2021 - First ever "Virtual Race" where participants were able to run the race on their own terms. Funds were raised for a lighting upgrade for the Half Day School stage.
- 2022 - Largest race registration ever! Proceeds benefited continued improvement and innovation for Sprague School Library.
- 2023 - Funds raised from this race were applied to audio and video improvements in the Daniel Wright Junior High School gyms.
- 2024 - Funds raised from this race were donated to Half Day School.
