The Mariah's Challenge Fun Run Applying best practices in event planning, social marketing, and volunteer recruitment and retention in the design and implementation of a nonprofit organization's inaugural 5k community event

his project addresses and solves a problem faced by Mariah's Challenge, a nonprofit organization located in Butte, Montana. The organization seeks to prevent underage drinking and drunk driving. Mariah's Challenge annually awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to students that refrain from using alcohol while in high school. Due to the rising number of scholarships awarded each year, the organization requires a more stable fundraising plan. Mariah's Challenge has previously received funds through various donors and grants in a precarious and unstable fashion. The Mariah's Challenge Fun Run was chosen as an organization specific fundraising event because it serves as a relationship-building tool and allows participants to support Mariah's Challenge while participating in a social activity.;Planning The Mariah's Challenge Fun Run consisted of designing, planning, and implementing an entirely new organization fundraising event. The Mariah's Challenge Fun Run was planned and implemented by identifying and applying best practices from scholarly literature in three key areas: event planning, event marketing, and volunteer recruitment and retention. A questionnaire was sent to participants and volunteers to evaluate the event. Feedback from the questionnaire can be used to make improvements for subsequent Mariah's Challenge Fun Runs and events. The inaugural Mariah's Challenge Fun Run had 248 total participants, 35 volunteers, and raised over...