Inaugural Jog-A-Thon

Linda Vista Adventist Elementary School in Oxnard held its inaugural jog-a-thon May 6. Students, parents, friends and siblings ran to help finance education. Runners ranged from 4-year-old Sarah Galetti to Pat Lowe, 87. Money raised totaled more than $8,000.

Molly Gram, kindergartner, was top in sponsorship with $631. The school has 63 students, and 43 were joggers. Students running the most laps were Angel Pena and Kenneth Sanchez. Jonathon Sanchez, eighth-grader, won second place; the third place was won by Armando Ortiz, who received gift cards from Target. Grades fourth through sixth had 100 percent participation.

Roy Brasher of RE/ MAX Olson paid 100 percent of expenses. Brasher makes a habit of assisting schools in Ventura County. Newbury Park Academy raised $36,000 and Conejo Valley Elementary $34,000 last year. Brasher feels students should feel empowered in raising funds to enable them to help themselves. His motto is "No child left behind" because of finances.

Many students at Linda Vista rely on financial assistance from their local churches or contributions from individual donors. Principal Sharon Crooms helps many families search for assistance. Croom said, "If a student wants to be here at Linda Vista, we do whatever to help make this happen, looking for academic commitment from the student and financial commitment from the parents so the student's education will be worthwhile and successful."