Posted on October 1, 2020
Registration for the fourth annual ZGravy Chase on Thanksgiving Day 2020 is now open. This year’s event gives runners and walkers the choice to participate live starting on Main Street in Zionsville or virtual via a walk/run in their own neighborhood. Regardless of the choice, proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County.
“For many families, ZGravy Chase has become a Thanksgiving tradition, and we heard from these past participants that they want the event to continue this year,” said Rob Schien, BGC Boone County Board president. “For our Main Street walkers and runners, our planning team is working with Town officials and the county health department to ensure all safety protocols are in place. The new walk-in-your neighborhood virtual opportunity offers our supporters a great option to participate at a socially distanced comfort level.”
ZGravy Chase traditionally welcomes families from throughout central Indiana. Runners and walkers include parents with strollers, families with dogs, and participants ranging in age from infants to 87 years old. The goal for the 2020 race is to raise $145,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County. Funds raised from this year’s event are more important than ever because the organization is projecting a 40% operations budget shortfall in 2020 due to current COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.
ZGravy Chase Details
- Race day is Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day).
- Registration is online at www.zgravychase.org.
- Cost to run/walk at the event in Zionsville on Main Street is $40 per person or $130 for a family of four. Limited to 1,000 participants.
- Cost to run/walk in your neighborhood virtually is $30 per person.
- Register by Sunday, Nov. 1 to be guaranteed a tee shirt with delivery by race day (always a participant favorite).
- Race packets will be available for pick up at the BGC Boone County Zionsville Unit on Wednesday Nov. 25 from noon to 6 p.m.
- Optional packet shipment requests can be made during online registration.
Main Street runners and walkers race will start at 8 a.m. with rolling start times to ensure social distancing. Racers will move through in the hole, on deck, and start corrals to ensure safe spacing and distancing. This process allows 300 participants properly spaced at one time for walk run/walk preparation and starts. Masks are required pre- and post-race. The event starting line will be located separate from the finish line. Currently 1,000 runner/walker registrations are allocated.
Virtual runners and walkers will walk where they live on Thanksgiving Day. Virtual racers are encouraged to wear their tee-shirt during the walk, welcome other virtual racers you see along your route, and take photos to share on social media. Virutal participants can log their times after the virtual walk or run at Race Joy.
Neighborhood Ambassador volunteers are invited to organize family, friends and neighbors to join together to walk/run a route as a small group on Thanksgiving Day. Contact Katie Reasoner to sign up your neighborhood or community. Neighborhood Ambassadors will assist in promoting the race route in their neighborhood or community and receive a complimentary race registration.
Community members who cannot join zGRAVY Chase but would like to support the organization are invited to support the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County by making a donation.
Posted on April 16, 2020
The Glow Dance originally scheduled for Friday, March 13 has been postponed until August 29th.
Tickets purchased will still be accepted for the future date. If you would like a refund, please email Glenn Sanford at gsanford@bgcboone.org. We apologize for the inconvenience. The Boys & Girls Club of Boone County is committed to the youth and their health and safety. We are postponing the dance as a pre-cautionary measure. Stay Healthy!
Posted on March 14, 2020
(Updated March 16th, 2020)
At the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County, the health and safety of our members is our top priority.
With the closing of local schools and our three units, there is an unintended consequence of availability for meals for families in most need of our services. To address this need the Club will be offering a take out evening meal at the Lebanon Unit, 403 West Main Street. The offering is available to Club members and any community member in need during these difficult times.
Meals will be available Monday through Friday beginning March 16 – March 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a limit of eight carry out meals per family. We are initially preparing meals for at least 100 people each day and will make adjustments as needed.
The Club is offering this service to the Boone County community during this time of need. The meal program is not funded by the Department of Education program as those funds are only available when the Club is open for daily services. Therefore, the Club is actively seeking monetary and food donations.
Make a Donation
There is a food donation box placed outside the Zionsville (East Club) 1575 Mulberry Street or drop off during business hours Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm.
Items needed:
- Applesauce
- Fruit cups
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Apple slices
- Canned vegetables
- Hamburger and Hot dog buns
- Hot dogs
- Spaghetti and sauce
- Ground beef
- Shredded cheese
- Taco shells and seasoning
Thank you to the Community Foundation of Boone County for stepping up to initially support this effort. We will need additional help to continue to provide this program for the families who need it most in these uncertain times.
In addition, we are in need of volunteers to assist distributing the meals.
Sign up to Volunteer
If you have any questions about the offering or would like to help, please reach out to me or any of our Club staff.
Stay Healthy,
Mark Branch, CEO
Posted on March 13, 2020
In light of the news about the Coronavirus (CoViD-19) and the actions of the Lebanon and Zionsville Community School Corporations, beginning on Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County, Lebanon, Whitestown and Zionsville Units will be closed.
The Club will be closed from Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 27. All sports leagues, before and after school care and all activities are canceled.
We will re-evaluate the spring break schedule as we approach that week.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our Club staff.
Stay Healthy,
Mark Branch, CEO
Posted on February 17, 2020
The Lebanon Unit will be moved to a secondary location to allow for new carpet, tile and gym flooring during the following dates:
- March 30th through April 3rd
- April 20th through April 28th
Before School and After School care along with Spring Break care will be at the Freedom Church.
The Freedom Church is located at:
2061 Indianapolis Ave
Lebanon, IN 46052
All school buses will drop off at the Freedom Church. Transportation will still be provided by us for Before School Care, Middle School and High School After School Care.
Our Spring Break will run from 7am to 6pm March 30th through April 3rd. Please drop off and pick up at the church
For Spring Break care, please register through the Portal.
Posted on December 4, 2019
More than 2,650 participants from 24 states and three countries joined together for the 3rd annual ZGravy Chase to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County. This family-friendly event welcomed strollers, dogs and participants ranging in age from infant to 87 years old! The 2.0- and 4.4-mile course started and finished on the historic cobblestone Main Street of Zionsville.
In the 2.0-mile division, Mike Cole was the first male across the finish line in 10:50.95 followed by the female runner, Azmi Carlson with a time of 13:43.53. On the long course, in the male division, Jackson Martin crossed the finish line in 20:12.25 and Tamara Nelson took home the female honor with a time of 27:21.70.
“Our goal in starting this event was to create a lasting revenue source for the Club and the youth in our community, especially those who need us most. In addition, we wanted to bring a race to Boone County to start a new family and friends tradition on Thanksgiving Day that will remind us how thankful we are for this community and all of the individuals that help make this a great place to live, work and play.
As the board president, I am overwhelmed by the hard work and generosity of the staff, volunteers, sponsors, Town of Zionsville, and thousands of participants. ZGravy Chase is truly a community-wide event! Race Maker Productions took a chance on promoting our event in 2017 and has been an incredible partner helping to produce and grow ZGravy Chase.”
Rob Schein, Board President for the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County
The Boys & Girls Club of Boone County serves more than 450 kids every day in Lebanon, Whitestown and Zionsville with before and after school programs. In addition, the Club offers sports leagues, summer camps and community activities for our youth serving more than 3,000 kids each year. In the Lebanon Unit, the Club feeds an average of 85 Club kids each day. The mission and core beliefs of Boys & Girls Clubs fuel our commitment to promoting safe, positive and inclusive environments for all.
Significant funds are needed to sustain daily Club operations. Forty-eight percent of the $1.56 million budget is raised from special events, corporate support, individual donations and grants. Proceeds from the ZGravy Chase race will go directly to serve the youth in our community. This year’s event raised more than $75,000 to fill the $409 gap between membership fees and the cost of running the Clubs.
ZGravy Chase kicks off our end of year giving campaign. The Club has two anonymous donors who have pledged $35,000 in matching funds. The goal is to raise $150,000 between Thanksgiving and New Year’s to serve the youth in our community.
To make a gift to the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County, visit our Donations page.
