By Jeff Bacon
The Sun Valley Board of Realtors Community Foundation started doing the math regarding veterans living in Blaine County and the numbers weren’t adding up.
“According to the census data, there are approximately 1,500 veterans living in Blaine County,” notes Amanda Ornelas, CEO of the Foundation. “An alarming number of those vets are living at or below the poverty level and our board felt it was time to bring this information out to our community and find a way to help.”
This Saturday, Oct. 1, the Sun Valley Board of Realtors Community Foundation will hold its first Fun Run and Walk to launch its new veterans housing assistance program, 5B Realtors for Veterans.
A first-of-its-kind program in the Wood River Valley, 5B Realtors for Veterans will give 100 percent of the proceeds raised to sustainable housing for local veterans and their families.
“Our board has already agreed to pay all of the costs associated with putting on this event, which gives us the ability to use 100 percent of the monies collected during this event to go directly to help our veterans that need assistance,” Amanda adds.
Founded in 2004, the Sun Valley Board of Realtors Community Foundation has a considerable history in helping throughout the Valley. Foundation programs include a scholarship for Blaine County students, with more than $200,000 having been awarded to date. The Foundation’s annual Holiday Baskets provide food and gifts of warmth to over 400 Valley families each year. They also raised funds for local firefighters during the Castle Rock and Beaver Creek fires, totaling $67,000.
“Whether it’s our Realtors for Air program or helping raise funds for a Habitat for Humanity project, the Foundation is all about finding ways to help our community in the Wood River Valley,” Amanda adds. “We’re excited to be able to bring an issue like housing assistance for veterans to a place where it’s better understood by our community and we’re offering them a way to help as well.”
Saturday’s Fun Run and Walk starts at 9 a.m. in Lions Park in Hailey, next to the Draper Wood River Preserve. “Being able to use the Preserve for the starting and finishing point for this event has been a great experience,” Amanda notes. “The leaves are starting to change color and there’s that great crisp feel in the air in the mornings. We’re looking forward to seeing all the families come out and enjoy the walk through a beautiful part of town and know they’re helping some of America’s heroes at the same time. Of course, dogs are welcome, too.”
Grumpy’s is providing a post-race lunch, with tickets available for purchase during registration. Sawtooth Brewery is providing free beer and Toni’s is providing free ice cream. Registration for the event is available online at 5BVeterans.org.
Jeff Bacon is The Chamber’s membership director. For more information, visit www.haileyidaho.com or call The Chamber at (208) 788-3484.