Fun on the Run (FOTR), a FREE mobile recreation program serving low income families in Fairfield, is a major mission-based program sponsored by the Foundation. FOTR began in 2005 with a van refurbished by the California Prison System Auto Body Shop. In 2006, the Foundation purchased a second vehicle, a retired SWAT van, to double the outreach of the program.
FOTR proved so successful that the Foundation raised funds in 2008 to replace the two tired vans with two more reliable vehicles. The program provides year round, supervised recreational and educational activities for kids ages four to eighteen at Fairfield’s neighborhood parks and school sites in low income areas. Trained community services staff and volunteers oversee the activities including
- Physical exercise and team sports
- Healthy food and nutrition programs
- Science and nature programs
- Creative art activities
In 2006, FOTR was selected for The Helen Putnam Award, a prestigious statewide award of excellence by the League of California Cities. It also received a statewide award of achievement in the category of cities with populations over 100,000 by the California Park and Recreation Society.
Overview of Fun on the Run
- Free mobile recreation program that serves children 4–18, visiting Fairfield’s low income neighborhoods
- Serves hundreds of children weekly with over 15,000 visitors per year
- Provides supervised recreation during the critical after school hours of 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. when kids are most likely to get into trouble. Activities include: sports, games, nutrition education, cooking, arts & crafts, and special events
- Two colorful FOTR vans visit 10 sites each week after school during the school year, and 20 sites during the summer months
- Helps prevent juvenile delinquency and helps at-risk children make positive lifestyle choices
- Helps fight the childhood obesity epidemic by providing kids with daily physical activities
- Teaches kids about the environment, animals, and nature through an innovative hands-on program called Nature’s Critters
- Staff members provide kids with positive mentoring
- The Foundation pays the annual operational cost for one vehicle, while the City of Fairfield pays for the operational costs of the second vehicle
- Overcomes two key barriers to participation for low income families:
- Cost – program is FREE
- Transportation – program comes right into the neighborhoods where people live