Great Fish Challenge heads into final week

Time is winding down on the Great Fish Community Challenge.

Whitefish Community Foundation’s fundraising drive ends at midnight on Sept. 18. The foundation office will close at 5 p.m. but donations can be made online up until midnight.  Donations that come in after Sept. 18 will still be granted to the designated charity but will not be included in the match.

Thirty-two eligible charities have been working all summer to raise funds through the challenge in order to receive a matching grant from the Foundation. The match is done by a percentage based on how much is raised by the nonprofits against how much the Foundation has in the Great Fish Match Fund.

Nonprofits will receive 100 percent of the funds donated on their behalf through the Great Fish. The Foundation is covering all the costs.

To date the nonprofits have raised over $650,000.

The final amount of the Foundation’s match will be announced at an awards event at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Casey’s in downtown Whitefish.

To donate to the Great Fish Challenge, visit online at www.greatfishchallenge.org or call 406-863-1781.

September 12 is the culminating event for the Great Fish Community Challenge with the Fish 5K Color Run and Nonprofit Fair. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. when the public is invited to tour the 32 interactive booths hosted by the nonprofits in the Challenge and enjoy great entertainment.

To register for the Great Fish 5K Color Run visit www.greatfishchallenge.org.  

Preregister for the recreational or competitive run for $12 and receive a commemorative T-shirt. Pick-up your race packets at the WAVE on Sept. 11 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Same day registration is $15 and starts at 9 a.m. at Depot Park. Kids 12 and under are free.

The race starts at 10 a.m.

It is a color run and costumes are encouraged. Prizes will be awarded in the competitive division.

Sign up to run for a nonprofit and you will help them earn points toward a bonus grant. Race Awards ceremony at noon.