Wasatch Back and Winder Farms Raise Funds for Rocky Mountain Middle School

SALT LAKE CITY, UT | June 18, 2007 - The halls are empty at Rocky Mountain Middle School, but preparations are in full-swing for one of the most unique fundraisers in the state. Each year, on the fourth weekend in June, the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back presented by NordicTrack descends upon the backside of the Wasatch Mountains. This 178-mile,12-teammate, overnight relay race attracts over 3700 runners and 1000 volunteers. During the relay, each team member runs three legs, each leg ranging between 3-8 miles and varying in difficulty. Along the course there are 36 exchange points where runners pass off the baton to the next runner on their team.

One of the 36 exchange points occurs at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Heber, Utah. Last year Dan Hill, Race Director for the Wasatch Back, approached Rocky Mountain Middle School and suggested they raise funds for the school by providing services for the runners.

With Hill’s help Rocky Mountain Middle School came up with an excellent fundraising concept. They provide runners with breakfast for $4.00, a warm shower for $2.00, a towel for $2.00, and a place to sleep for $2.00.

The fundraiser got even better when Winder Farms, a sponsor of the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back, donated all the breakfast supplies to the Rocky Mountain Middle School. Thanks to the donation by Winder Farms, Rocky Mountain Middle School was able to raise $3000.

Based on the success of the fundraiser last year Winder Farms has once again donated breakfast supplies to Rocky Mountain Middle School.

“We are excited to be involved with the Rocky Mountain Middle School again this year, “says Mike Dutton, COO of Winder Farms, “At Winder we are always looking for ways to give back to the community. This is one of those unique opportunites where your can actually see how it impacts the children.”

“I think it’s awesome and their food is so good,” Jean North, secretary and fundraising coordinator says of Winder Farms. “They are donating breakfast supplies to us with no strings attached. And to top it off, for each new account they sign-up during the race they will donate $20 back to the school.

Rocky Mountain Middle School hopes to raise at least $6,000 this year, but Hill thinks they will raise much more.

“Last year was just a test, but the runners loved it. The school did a great job and our participants all commented on how good the Winder Farms Breakfast was. Our participants are really looking forward. Based on that I think they will easily raise $10,000.”

North says that the funds earned this year will go towards building improvements and a new sound system for assemblies and choir/band concerts.

Winder Farms has been providing farm fresh goodness to the doorsteps of tens of thousands of Utah homes since 1880. In addition to milk, fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, yogurt, eggs, fresh squeezed juices, all-natural preservative free meats and bakery items that are free of trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils, they also deliver organic produce boxes.