CONTINUING THE TRADITION
The Invest in Yourself 5k, presented by Brooks, will again feature the Banana Challenge! This challenge will benefit Girls, Inc. and the Special Olympics of Nebraska.
As you wind through the streets of Omaha, be on the lookout for a runner in a banana costume. You may think this is odd, and you would not be wrong, but this running banana is on course with one goal in mind: raising money for charity. The banana will be the very last runner to cross the start line. Each runner that the banana passes during the 5k will trigger a $5 donation from Brooks, which will be split between the two charities (minimum donation will be $5,000 per charity).
So, keep your eyes peeled for a running banana and give them a crisp high-five as they rack up the charity dough during this year’s Invest in Yourself 5k, presented by your friends at Brooks.
Special Olympics Nebraska
Special Olympics Nebraska was founded in 1972 to offer opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities through sport, health, and education initiatives. SONE now serves more than 5,000 individuals in more than 110 communities and in numerous classrooms throughout Nebraska. Their mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, and other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Girls, Inc.
Girls Inc. has been inspiring girls in Omaha to be strong, smart, and bold for 38 years. They help girls overcome economic, social, and gender barriers to growing up healthy, educated, and independent.
They provide:
A safe, nurturing environment. They provide reliable transportation to our centers, hot meals, daily homework help, access to computer labs, and counseling services. Girls are mentored by caring adults.
Hands-on, minds-on programs in science, technology, engineering & math; literacy; health & wellness; art; college & career prep; and more. Educational programs. Girls learn to create resumes and interview for jobs, change the oil in a car, use fitness equipment, and cook healthy food. They learn to budget and they open savings accounts. They are encouraged to develop leadership skills and to take risks.
Opportunities for life experiences girls wouldn’t otherwise have and to simply have some fun. Girls go camping, make s’mores, go to the opera, get library cards, and have sleepovers. They play on a supervised playground, join book clubs, have pizza parties, compete on a soccer team, bake cookies, and go on field trips. They give each other manicures, they travel, they garden, dance, and sing.