Westerville Education Challenge’s 3rd annual Night of Hope 5K, 1-mile, and Family Fun Run is set to take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Westerville North’s Jim McCann Stadium.

We invite our many friends, families, and community members to support WEC and attend this great event!

The Night of Hope offers pre-event fun for the whole family, and helps raise money for WEC’s work to promote mental health. Grab a shaved ice treat from our visiting Kona Ice truck, and browse the informational tables set up by many local stakeholders.

Stakeholder vendors

Joining those vendors sharing resources at our 2024 Night of Hope — along with Concord Counseling of Westerville, NAMI Mid-Ohio, the Westerville Public Library, and Ellie Mental Health — will be the Grief Recovery Method.

The Grief Recovery Method is an innovative, evidence-based structured approach to help individuals cope with and move through the pain of loss, whether due to death, divorce, or other significant life changes. And, helping children cope with loss involves understanding children’s developmental stages and providing appropriate support and guidance.

Hope Squad enthsiasm

Our Hope Squad students from Westerville North, South, and Central high schools provide most of the person-power for the Night of Hope, running the pre-race games and then cheering on participants as they traverse the great course cross-country course around Westerville North.

Proceeds from the event help support WEC’s social-emotional learning initiatives in the Westerville City School District. We work to create school cultures where every student feels safe, supported and celebrated, with programs like Hope Squad, Parent Prep, the W.E.B. program in our middle schools, the new Link Crew mentorship program starting at the high schools this fall, and sponsorship of Twinkle, our Canine Companion support dog trained to provide emotional support for Westerville students.

Run/Walk options and activities

Attendees can participate in the Family Fun Run, an official 5K, or tackle a shorter 1-mile course. This fantastic event concludes with the lighting of luminaries around the McCann Stadium track — shining a light on promoting mental health for all.

NEW: Our wonderful Night of Hope sponsor Jet’s Pizza will be at the event, serving FREE PIZZA to participants and Volunteers! THANK YOU to Jet’s, also a generous sponsor of our Hope Squad programs at all three Westerville high schools!

Register for the Run/Walk

The Night of Hope helps fund WEC’s social-emotional learning initiatives in the Westerville City School District. THANK YOU for your support!