Funds From AirVenture Run Go To In-Home Elderly Care

By Maria Morrison

EAA is continuing its annual race around the grounds to raise money for a local charity. The Runway 5K is a 3.1 mile loop around the Ultralight section of AirVenture for all ages and paces.

Funds from this year’s Runway 5K will be going to northeastern Wisconsin-based Clarity Care. Clarity Care is a nonprofit organization that provides in-home care services for persons with limitations or disabilities, allowing them to live independently and safely within their community.

Money raised this year at Airventure will be devoted to providing direct care hours to clients in their own homes with the Help At Home program. Help At Home provides in-home care services and community involvement opportunities to low-income elderly and disabled persons at rates beginning at $3.00 an hour, making them affordable to those who need it most. The remaining costs for care are subsidized by grants and donations. There is no government funding for Help At Home. Clarity Care is introducing the Help At Home program to the AirVenture community not only for the local donor support, but also to model the unique program to other communities.

“We are so grateful to the EAA and the entire AirVenture community for their support of our Help At Home program," said Mary Kummerow Johnson, Clarity Care’s Director of Marketing & Fund Development. "Last year we provided over 12,600 hours of supportive care to 330 Help At Home clients, helping them to lead independent and safe lives in their own homes and reduce their risks of injury, hospitalizations, and social isolation. With over 1,000 individuals on waiting lists throughout our region, the need for these services continues to grow. With this financial support, we can continue to meet the needs of our most vulnerable community members.”

Registration in the run includes free admission to AirVenture on July 25, a Runway 5K T-shirt, and refreshments at the conclusion of the race.  Those interested in participating can sign up on the grounds or online until July 24th at 11:59 pm. The run begins at 7:00 am on July 25th.

FMI: www.claritycare.org