Dinosaur Dash XX

This November 7th is the 20th anniversary of the Dinosaur Dash, a running event and fundraiser for the Tustin Public Schools Foundation (TPSF). It is held annually at the Tustin MarketPlace. More than 10,000 people attend each year, including volunteers and participants. This year’s Dino Dash has added a cycling tour in addition to the 10K, 5K and 2K “fun run.” Each year the logo is selected in a contest among Tustin student entries.

Last year’s Dash earned $125,000 for the District’s student and teacher support through event registrations and sponsorships. The prior year, in a better economic environment, they raised $170,000. To give some perspective, TPSF has donated over $2.3 million to the school district over the past twenty years--from all income sources—including the Dinosaur Dash.

TPSF is seeking residents who participated in the inaugural Dash to share their memories, so here goes!

I was a founding Board Member of the Foundation, and was Chair of the Inaugural Dino Dash. As Fundraiser chair on the Board, I was given the responsibility by the Board to create an annual event that would involve the entire community in an effort to support our schools.

We decided on a running event, interviewed race directors, and hired Herb Massinger of Race Pace. Hence the Dino Dash was born. I remember how hard it was initially to obtain the Board’s approval to proceed…I practically had to twist their arms and stand on my head…but finally received the go-ahead.

We held weekly meetings for what seemed months at my home with the race director and race volunteers to organize the event. The first year was tough going, and we finished with something like a meager $5000 net profit. We had big goals though, and were optimistic that the event would build over time. Of course optimism is my middle name!

I remember that Linda Jennings and I met with the General manager of Tustin Lexus, who agreed to be our Major Sponsor… and we were off and running! The first year ALMOST everything on the day of the event came off without a hitch, although the weather was cold and windy that first Sunday. I have photos of my children, who were quite young then, wearing ear muffs and jackets.

Every Board member worked the event…and we also had lots of community and school volunteers. We decided to invite local Olympians to sign autographs for young and old athletes, with the help of our own home-grown Olympians who had children in our school district. My good friend Dana Schoenfeld Reyes (Breastroke, Silver, Munich ’72) put us in touch with most of them including a number of swimmers, triathletes, runners, and more.

The event has morphed and changed over the years with all kinds of related activities: A food court, games, community booths, costume contests, contests between schools for registration, and more.

The Foundation offers grants to teachers throughout the district, sponsors a Teacher of the Year event, teacher training, scholarships for college-bound students, books, technology, a Go Green Initiative, and tutoring.

To this day one of my most treasured possessions is the baby dinosaur hatching from an egg that was presented to me for “hatching” the Dinosaur Dash. It was a difficult birth but well worth it!

for more information on Dino Dash XX or to register, go to: http://www.tpsf.net/dash.htm