Miranda Coulthard / Winonan
Sigma Tau Gamma, one of the national fraternities at Winona State University, is shaking up their annual Color My Community 5k run/walk on April 15. Unlike last year’s event, this 5k Run/Walk will be put on by the fraternity itself, instead of through an outside organization.
Winona State junior Nick Cota, Color My Community co-chair, said taking on the extra responsibilities has been worth the effort.
“We did this event last year but it was a little different. It was a UV Splash run where we went through a company and it was a good first go at it, I think. We raised $4,200 for Winona Volunteer Services.” Cota said. “This year we are doing Color My Community. We do have a lot more responsibility but at the same time its been a great experience doing it.”
Cota also expressed the importance of the goal of the event, which is to give money back to a local charity while connecting the community.
“This is an event that we would like to bring to the area not only to raise money for a local charity but also bring the community together,” Cota stated. “We want to, hopefully, be able to give more money back to Winona Volunteer Services.”
Winona State senior, Cody Bristow, executive vice president of the fraternity, emphasized why Winona Volunteer Services was the charity of choice.
“We could have done any number of charities, but we wanted something that was local. It helped a lot last year because it helped bring in people,” Bristow said. “It was easier to give to a cause that you know directly affects your community. So we went with them, and they were nothing but positive.”
Cota also said the event impacts the fraternity’s goals as a whole.
“Personally we get the sense of gratitude that we may not get otherwise. We like to get our names on things that mean a lot to this community,” Cota said. “Our community does a lot for us, and we like to do as much as we can for them as well.”
Color My Community individual tickets are $29, partner tickets are $58, teams of three are $81, and teams of four are $100.
Registration can be done through the direct links on the Facebook event page titled Color My Community: 5k Run & Walk.