A Heritage begins

Virginia E. Lopez

In 1987, Karen Kendall and then Newport Harbor High PTA President

Linda Boris were sitting together at a meeting.

“We were faced with yet another fund-raiser like in years past,”

Kendall said.

And a thought came: “Let’s put on a run!”

“The Spirit Run in Fashion Island had begun a few years

previously, and its proceeds benefited the elementary schools in that

zone,” she said. “We were intrigued by the Spirit Run’s success and

hoped to replicate it in the Harbor Heritage Run.”

Thus began the race, still going strong 17 years later.

Their idea was to have not just a great fund-raiser, but a fun

family event that everyone, including the children, could be involved

in.

Kendall volunteered to organize and implement the run and served

as its director for the first two years.

They had two goals in mind, Kendall said. “To raise money in a fun

and fit way for programs and enrichments at Newport Harbor High

School and to celebrate the heritage of NHHS.”

As they kept these goals in mind they contacted alumni,

encouraging them to support the race.

“We were very successful, scores of alums served as volunteers and

joined in the race as well,” Kendall said.

The excitement continued as Harbor High alumni from all over,

including now famous people like Ted McGinley, Bruce Penhall and

Frank Marshall, gave their support back to the school.

About 2,000 people were involved in the very first race and though

Kendall doesn’t remember how much was raised, “it was significant,

tens of thousands of dollars were raised. (But) I’d need to check my

old records to give you the exact amount.”

Kendall also points out that in keeping with the goal of

celebrating the heritage of Newport Harbor, the tower, its landmark,

was included in the art for the first run and continues to be a part

of each successive race in some form.

But one thing few know is that the event almost didn’t take off at

all.

“I found out (after months of planning) that I was supposed to

have filed a Use of Facilities permit for the field in order to

reserve it for the day,” Kendall said. “I was understandably

panicked, since the race was only a month way. However, it all turned

out fine, we got the field, and the first Harbor Heritage Run

happened.”

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