Buddy Program hosts largest annual fundraiser: Bash for Buddies

The Buddy Program’s 38th annual Boogie’s Buddy Race and its largest fundraiser of the year, Bash for the Buddies, will take place next weekend.

Individuals and families are encouraged to run, walk, or skip to the finish line during the Boogie’s Buddy Race on Thursday, July 4, at Rio Grande Park. Those who are interested can register for the five-mile, five-kilometer, or one-mile runs online or in person from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on July 3 in front of the Crepe Shack in Aspen.

Tickets are also still available for the Bash for the Buddies on Saturday, July 6. The gala-style event will kick off at 6 p.m. at Merry-Go Ranch. The theme of the fundraiser is “boots, buckles, and buddies.” It will be a Western-inspired night that typically raises over one-third of the organization’s annual budget. Tickets and tables can be purchased online or by calling 970-920-2130.

“We are so excited for this week of special events that provide critical fundraising support for our four youth mentoring programs,” said Buddy Program Executive Director Lindsay Lofaro in a news release. “We are grateful to our local community of philanthropists and businesses who support our work annually and welcome any visitors to our valley to join us and get involved.”

The fundraiser supports the local youth mentoring organization’s efforts to empower youth in the Roaring Fork Valley through mentoring experiences to achieve their full potential. The Buddy Program works with over 550 youth, families, and volunteers from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. The organization is one of the largest local youth-serving organizations in the valley.