Empowering Youth:
Presenting the 2024 Founders Award
On October 8, 2024, the Winona Community Foundation awarded the members of the BK5K Road Race Planning Committee with the Founders Award. The award honors an individual or group in our community who has demonstrated and extraordinary commitment to improving life in Winona through the use of their time, talent, and treasure. 2024 marks the 20th year the award has been given to a member of our community.
Since the BK5K Road Race began in 2001, it has raised over $2.2 million that has directly supported youth organizations in Winona. Its planning committee responsible for the coordination of these races is entirely volunteer-run.
Originally called the BK5K Memorial Road Race, the race was hosted by the Rotary Club of Winona and was the first running race in the area to offer trophies to runners who outperformed their previous best time. Not long after the road race was created, its focus began to shift from a primarily competitive endeavor to a community-focused event. During its integration into Fastenal and merge with the Steamboat Stumble, it was decided to align the benefactors to what Bob Kierlin values, which is young individuals in our community. Money raised by the Road Race is donated through a grant process to local area youth organizations and programs that demonstrate financial need. Recipients of these grants are evaluated for merit by a separate committee and are dispersed in partnership with the Winona Community Foundation.
The impact of the committee’s work has given many unique opportunities to local non-profits and schools, and the youth they serve. As current race director Paul Wisniewski puts it, “Because of local need, these grants really do make a huge difference. We get emails and thank you notes all the time from kids that have benefitted from the race. The committee lives and works in Winona, so to be able to see and hear the impact the youth grants have is really rewarding.” The road race is also kept affordable so families can participate as a whole.
Due to success and a desire to have a wider impact, the BK5K Road Race has since grown to ten cities, both across the country and internationally. The BK5K Road Race is proud to continue its mission of serving youth in its 23rd year. It was an honor for the Foundation to award the Bk5K Road Race Planning Committee and their ongoing commitment to Winona.
As part of the award, the recipients had the opportunity to grant $5,000 to a cause of their choice. The committee selected the Impact Center to receive $2,500, with the other $2,500 supporting the East End Rec Center’s food shelf.