Upcoming Heritage Run could net $30,000

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- It’s exactly one week away.Once a year, students run

their hearts out to raise the money that keeps their PTA mothers running

around all year long.

It’s the 14th annual Harbor Heritage Run -- the Newport Harbor High

School PTA fund-raiser and momentous community event that draws nearly

1,000 runners and even more supporters.

“It’s our only fund-raiser and has been for years,” said Barbara

Yeager, PTA president. “It’s also a wonderful community event that

supports all the programs we put on.”

Next Saturday, hundreds of athletically inclined community members

will huff and puff and raise thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, back at the school’s track, supporters will mill around a

huge health fair set up with food, chiropractors and masseurs.

Last year, the event raised $32,000 for everything from an overhead

projector for the math department to the $10,000 salary of a guidance

counselor technician named Becky Carey, who is invaluable to students.

Although the run has typically made about $25,000 in past years, event

chairwoman Kathy Glover is anticipating the proceeds to be about $30,000

this year.

“In the past 13 years we’ve distributed $271,000 to the school for

teachers, for computers and athletics,” Glover said.

Although when compared to foundation dollars and other magnanimous

contributions, it may not seem like a large sum, but it is what keeps

Newport Harbor going.

Just like mom and the PTA itself, the money seems to be anywhere and

everywhere, no matter how large or small the need.

In the early years, the Heritage Run money paid for a computerized

attendance system to help keep track of students.

In 1994, the money paid for a new paint job for the gym.

In 1996, money from the event bought $15,000 worth of computers and

software, and in 1998 it paid for needed folding chairs.

This year, the largest single expense will again be the $10,000

stipend for the guidance technician, followed by $8,000 in scholarships,

which was divided last year among 22 students going anywhere from Orange

Coast College to Princeton, Yeager said.

A new item has also been added to this year’s wish list -- the PTA

will give $3,000 to the Associated Student Body to hold more on-campus

events for students.

The remainder of the money will support PTA programs such as Academic

Boosters, Academic Decathlon, the leadership conference, career center,

and the academic awards ceremony.