TDS has been a proud sponsor of Tri 4 Schools (T4S) since 2011. T4S is a non-profit based in the Madison, Wis. area that puts on athletic events for kids ages 3-17. Their goal is to promote getting active and curb childhood obesity. T4S gives 100 percent of the entry fees to these events back to the school that the child attends. Since their inception in 2011, Tri 4 Schools has given back over $50,000 dollars to schools in the area.
Last Saturday marked the final event of the season—a youth mud run—and TDS was proud to be there and help volunteers. It was a very chilly day but over 750 kids and 125 volunteers came to Festival Park in Verona, Wis. to participate and help with a youth mud run. With some volunteers arriving even before sun up to help set up, TDS provided hot cocoa to keep everyone warmed up and ready to help the kids.
The event kicked off at 9 a.m. and there were plenty of obstacles and fun along the course—and naturally, plenty of mud. Each age group had an appropriately-sized mud pit to crawl through in order to get to the finish line. (Note: getting cold and muddy is optional, the kids could choose to bypass anything they didn’t feel comfortable navigating.) We saw plenty of kids come out various shades of muddy brown, and wearing a big smile of accomplishment for finishing the race.
All kids were awarded a finisher medal and a t-shirt, plus a swag bag full of goodies and coupons. And while it may seem like just a fun day in the mud for them, they’ll also benefit when their hard work pays off by their school getting new equipment, better food at the cafeteria, or maybe even a contribution toward a school trip when they return to school this week. Who’d have thought getting a little dirty could pay off so well? 
Even if the kids don’t fully appreciate what the money means for their school, the educators certainly do. Physical education teachers and principals have discussed how their entire year budget for equipment and athletics could be $100 dollars or less. When the school receives a check, in some cases, for more than double their annual budget, the administration starts to take notice. Don’t take it from me, visit the T4S accomplishments page and see what they have done to help schools—you might even see your child’s on the list!
