Sharon Crouch didn’t realize just how much work went into creating a memorial run and fundraiser until she created one in honor of her son, Jordan Crouch.
Jordan, who graduated from Skyview High School in 2000, died of heart valve failure on Jan. 2, 2010 at age 28. He had a strong love of charity and community service projects, and his family created the Jordan Crouch Memorial 5K Walk/Run to fund a scholarship in his name at Seattle Pacific University, where he graduated in 2004.
The run helped somewhat to create the scholarship, but after four years, it just isn’t making enough to keep it going, she said.
So this will be the last year.
“It’s really been tough going as far as trying to get community support,” Sharon said. “We’ve had some great sponsors, but we really hoped it would take off more than it did.”
The run has generally had about 100 participants each year, about 40 of whom are family members, she said.
“There are just so many other events we’re competing with out there,” Sharon said. “So we thought we’d take the money that we spent putting this together and just increase our own donation to the scholarship.”
That said, the family is hoping to finish off with one final flourish. The last event, which will be Saturday, Sept. 13, will have an array of prizes, food and appreciation for participants.
“We really want people to feel like they’re cared for and appreciated,” Sharon said. “We just couldn’t get the event to go anywhere.”
Over the four years, the group was able to collect $30,000 in donations for the scholarship through a variety of events and contributions. The requirement for having Jordan Crouch’s name on the scholarship was met at $20,000, which is at least a small victory.
The family had hoped to collect $50,000. People can still donate to the scholarship fund.
“He was a recipient of a scholarship and he was very grateful for it,” Sharon said of her son. “He wanted to give back, and before he died he was planning for this. He was excited about setting up a nonprofit foundation to provide scholarships for kids in need. And he was also a youth pastor and very active with young people.”
In 2009, Jordan was a youth director for Aurora Church of the Nazarene in Shoreline. When he died, he was also working on a fundraiser to provide clean drinking water in poverty-stricken countries.
“We thought it was the best way to honor him,” Sharon said. “We’re just so grateful for everyone who’s helped us over the years.”
Registration for the final race starts at 8 a.m. The event begins at 9 a.m. Sept. 13 at Marine Park, Southeast Columbia Way and Southeast Marine Park Way in Vancouver.
Cost is $35 for those who sign up in advance; $40 on race day. Call 360-574-6353 or email jordo2010@gmail.com for information.
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