Every bit counts for Buttercup Run

ARLEE - For a small fee, an adult can get a T-shirt and the chance to run in the Buttercup Run.

What that adult doesn't directly see is where the money they hand over goes.

This year, the annual Buttercup Run will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, starting in front of Arlee High School. There will be a one mile fun run, 5K and 10K.

The individual fees pay for the run's T-shirts listing the run's sponsors. The sponsorship money is what helps fund projects for the "Friends of Arlee School, Inc." Its mission is to support excellence in education of Arlee's students by providing funds for programs and projects that could otherwise not be funded.

One of the main projects is to provide scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Bradshaw said anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 are awarded each year with $8,100 awarded last year. Any senior is able to apply. With a small emphasis on grade point average, "but not as much as you think," Board of Director member Merrill Bradshaw said, the committee focuses more on community service and an essay written by each applicant.

"We have had a kid apply who was almost flunking out," Bradshaw said. "No grades to speak of, but she wrote a great essay and we funded her."

About 30-40 students are awarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000.

Bradshaw said it would be nice to assess need for scholarships and use that as a factor but "that's hard without getting snoopy," he said.

More than $5,000 is donated to teachers for classroom supplies.

Teachers are able to purchase art supplies, books, pencils, whatever they might need, Bradshaw said.

"There are always little bits and pieces that teachers need that they end up paying out-of-pocket for," he said. "It gives the idea that somebody cares about the schools. It is a lot of basic things that just can't come out of the budget."

In the past, money has also gone towards anti-bullying/violence campaigns at the elementary playgrounds and an audio/video Native American school project.

The run was started in the 1970s when a grant the Arlee schools received dried up. Teachers stepped in and started the run, but eventually that died out. Nine years ago, Bradshaw and company resurrected the fundraiser. The race started out with low numbers but reached 450 runners in 2008.

The weather played a factor last year and Bradshaw said he hopes the sun makes an appearance this year for a better turnout.

Since it is one of the first races of the season, runners who have been cooped up on treadmills tend to flock to Arlee for the event.

"We get people from across the state who want to run," Bradshaw said.

For more information contact arl3335@blackfoot.net or visit www.buttercuprun.com.