Virtual 5K Suit Run Benefit
Broward County Library, Fla.
Innovation Synopsis
Broward County Library originally planned an in-person 5K Cancer & Suit Run Benefit for March 2020. However, COVID-19 restrictions made that impossible so staff pivoted to a create a virtual race that raised money for a cancer charity and scholarship fund, included a clothing drive and allowed participants to choose when and where they ran.
Challenge/Opportunity
Staying healthy and well is more important now than ever. Broward County Library’s Virtual 5K Suit Run Benefit was created to promote community health and wellness to their customers and the community by increasing awareness of the library’s physical and digital health-related resources. Originally planned for a weather-perfect spring day, the race had to be reimagined as a virtual event while retaining the excitement and camaraderie of a physical race and incorporating a safe, socially distanced clothing drive.
Key Elements of Innovation
The event included a clothing drive to collect business suits for members of local school debate teams, in conjunction with the library’s college prep program, which provides a physical component that is safe and socially distanced.
Achieved Outcomes
Broward County Library Virtual 5K Suit Run Benefit had 301 participants and raised $5,750 for cancer charity My Style Matters, Inc., a community support system for cancer survivors/confidence building, and the Achievement Foundation of Fort Lauderdale, Inc. scholarship fund. Six suits were donated and a second drop-off date for the clothing drive will occur in October 2020.
