Kingswood Fun Run: bit.ly/2bMDd6H
Atlanta Humane Society: atlantahumane.org/volunteer
Haley Hooper loves running so much that at 9 years old, she started the Kingswood Fun Run in her Buckhead neighborhood because she wanted kids like her to fall in love with it as well. Coupled with her love for animals, Hooper decided to have the race benefit the Atlanta Humane Society.
“I love animals and I love to run,” said Hooper, now a sophomore at The Lovett School. “Atlanta Humane Society volunteers have to be 18 years or older to serve, but I still wanted to find a way to help this organization.”
Seven years later, the fun run has now expanded to a 5K, and Hooper has raised over $40,000 for AHS, with a goal to raise $100,000 before she heads off to college in two years.
This year, 75 runners came to the Kingswood Fun Run and helped to raise $15,000, getting Hooper closer to her goal. Next year, Hooper hopes the animals who are up for adoption can also join the race in hopes they can find their forever home.
“This is amazingly successful for an independent fundraising event, and one of the largest put on by any of our volunteer supporters,” said Stacy Guidice, director of direct marketing at the Atlanta Humane Society. “The money raised has saved the lives of hundreds of dogs and cats and enabled AHS to care for them and place them in forever, loving homes.”
Although the race happens once a year, Hooper encourages the community to keep running, walking and getting out there and find ways to give back to Atlanta Humane Society and the community in general. And AHS continues to look for volunteers for fostering, special events and more.
“Haley is an outstanding young philanthropist and volunteer, and she is already making a big difference in the world,” said Guidice. “We look forward to following her future successes.”
In other news: Loews Atlanta Hotel's Good Neighbor Council assembled and delivered 300 school supply-filled gift bags to Thomas Heathe Slater Elementary School's 3rd, 4th and 5th graders on Aug. 30. This is part of Loews Atlanta's commitment to supporting local schools through DonorsChoose.org with Slater Elementary as its main adopted school for the year. In addition to the backpack donation, Loews Atlanta has contributed nearly $26,000 to local classrooms through DonorsChoose.org and raised another $40,000 through an annual golf tournament that will be allocated this year to classroom projects at Slater Elementary and other local schools.
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