BAPS Charities Walkathon results in Generous Donation to benefit Lexington One Students & Programs
October 23, 2017: Many thanks to BAPS Charities for their terrific efforts in May 2017 to raise money to support both the Lexington One Educational Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. The center held a Walk Green Walkathon on May 21, 2017, which was a big success.
Foundation board member (and past chair) Hayley Bowers attended and represented the Foundation at the event. Mrs. Bowers said, “The BAPS Charities Walkathon was an awesome and very well organized event. The walkathon volunteer organizer, Vandan Shah, did a terrific job. I was pleased to see several River Bluff High School students participating in it, too, to raise funds for the Lexington One Educational Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, and the nationwide initiative to plant a billion trees! These three RBHS students also raised $500 on their own! We hope this is just the beginning of a continuing partnership to help others. We walked 2.5 miles as a community and hope to have even more people attend next year!”
The BAPS Charities Columbia, SC center donated a total of $1,965 to the Educational Foundation, which will support Lexington District One students and educational programs. Nationwide, BAPS Charities had over 17,000 walkers in over 50 cities in North America. The national efforts resulted in a donation to The Nature Conservancy of $165,000, which will help plant 100,000 trees in 2017.
On October 23, 2017, Foundation executive director Julie Washburn graciously accepted the official check presented to the Lexington One Educational Foundation from lead event volunteer, Vandan Shah, and BAPS Charities Columbia, SC members Hasmukhbhai Parekh and Hitesh Patel. Ms. Washburn said, “We are so grateful to BAPS Charities leaders to have included the Lexington One Educational Foundation in their 2017 Walkathon! This donation will support the district’s many educational initiatives and assist the Foundation in funding programs that would not be possible otherwise. We are so thankful to have friends like the leaders of the BAPS Charities thinking of our Lexington One students, teachers and schools and including the Foundation in their charitable endeavors.”
About BAPS Charities: It is a national organization that promotes a spirit of volunteerism around the world to serve individuals, families and communities in five key areas: Community Empowerment, Educational Services, Environmental Protection & Preservation, Health & Wellness, and Humanitarian Relief. The hope is to create a better community, nation and world. Visit http://www.bapscharities.org/usa/columbia-sc/ to learn more about the local BAPS Charities.
