Over the last few years, we were forced by a pandemic to make our annual meeting virtual. We adopted a new strategic plan and a new mission, and we began to evaluate all our programs and services to increase our member satisfaction. As part of those efforts, we wanted to align our events more intentionally with our mission to improve the quality of life in our communities.

On Friday, June 9, we will host our inaugural Bright Futures Fund Run, which will raise funds for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Westmoreland High School.

The Bright Futures Fund Run is a family-friendly event that encourages children to get active while supporting a great cause. The course is designed for children of all ages and skill levels, and participants can choose to run, walk or jog a 1/4-mile, 1/2-mile, or 1-mile course.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5 in our region’s participating communities.

We are thrilled to host this event in support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in our community. Not only will it provide a fun activity for families, but it will also help promote early childhood literacy in our region, and literally and figuratively make steps towards NNEC’s mission to improve the quality of life in our communities.

In addition to the fun run, the event will feature a touch-a-truck exhibit, where children can explore a variety of vehicles, including fire trucks, police cars and construction equipment. There will also be other family-friendly activities.

Registration for the Bright Futures Fund Run starts at $8 per child, which provides books for another child in the community for six months. Each participant will receive a small gift and a race medal. Parents and guardians can register their children online at nnec.coop/run.

We hope that our members and their families will come out to support this great cause and have a great time together. Many of our board members and executive team will also be in attendance, so you can meet us and ask questions. It is our hope that this event will become a fixture in our community like our annual meeting was for many decades. We look forward to seeing everyone have fun and make an impact in our community at the Bright Futures Fund Run.