Foundation hosts Great Fish Fun Run, Community Celebration

The Great Fish Fun Run and Community Celebration will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Whitefish Depot Park to celebrate philanthropy and the critical work of Flathead Valley nonprofits.

The annual event is part of the Great Fish Community Challenge, a six-week charitable giving campaign hosted by Whitefish Community Foundation to raise funds for 70 local charities. At the end of the challenge, Whitefish Community Foundation will award a percentage matching grant on the first $20,000 raised by each participating organization. Whitefish Community Foundation organizes the Challenge free of charge for participating nonprofits.

In addition to 5K and 1-mile races, the Great Fish Fun Run and Community Celebration includes an interactive nonprofit fair, live music by David Walburn, lunch by Piggyback BBQ, children's activities, prizes and more. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more at the event to a single participating nonprofit will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 10 $100 grants for that organization.

Runners and walkers can register online at runsignup.com/great-fish-fun-run or in-person at one of these registration and packet pick-up events:

Thursday, Sept. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bonsai Brewing Project in Whitefish.

Friday, Sept. 9 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center in Whitefish.

Day-of-event registration is also available at Depot Park from 8 to 9:30 a.m. However, participants are encouraged to register in advance to take advantage of early-bird pricing and avoid waiting in line the morning of the race. A limited number of special-edition bandanas are available to early registrants.

The top three male and female finishers in the competitive 5K race will recommend a grant for the participating nonprofit of their choice. First-place finishers will recommend a $300 grant; Second-place finishers will recommend a $200 grant; and third-place finishers will recommend a $100 grant. First-place competitive 5K finishers in the designated age brackets will win a commemorative Hydro Flask water bottle.

Whitefish Community Foundation is working with local composting company Dirt Rich to make the Great Fish Fun Run a zero-waste event.

The Great Fish Community Challenge ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16. Donors can support multiple charities with one transaction, and the nonprofits receive 100% of the donations designated to them. Donations can be made via credit card, check, cash, IRA distribution or appreciated securities.

For more information or to make a donation, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or call (406) 863-1781.