For the second year in a row, the Multicolor Mile was a colorful success. With over 400 gallons of watered-down paint, and 500 runners, it is safe to say the participants got their fair share of paint! This event has generated nearly $6,000 for UMass Amherst in the past two years, and was even awarded the 2017 Outstanding Student Advancement Program at the National CASE ASAP Networking Convention, in recognition of the philanthropic efforts behind the Multicolor Mile. Participants are engaged in the giving process, by voting on where they want to see their money donated. This is a truly meaningful experience for participants because they see how their donations impact the university. For us in SAA, we enjoy this because it reflects our efforts to enhance the UMass experience in order to foster a spirit of giving back.
The Multicolor Mile is an upbeat, energetic event that keeps participants coming back for more. Not only did the entry ticket include access to the race and nearly unlimited paint-spraying, but it also included access to numerous pre-run activities, such as backyard and inflatable games, a live DJ, and a photo op, as well as pre-run snacks and awesome swag! New this year, participants were able to show their Multicolor Mile support all day with temporary tattoos! All were welcome to attend this event, and we were happy to see UMass students, alumni, and families from surrounding communities join in on the fun. Our VP of Traditions, Rebecca (Becca) Munro, with the help of her Cabinet members: Jenny Riordan and Heather Camacho, worked really hard to plan and execute this great event. After the event, Becca stated,
It truly makes me happy to see different people of various ages coming together to enjoy this event. Our fall traditions committee and I have spent a lot of time putting it together and seeing the smiling faces pass the finish line, made me see how all of our effort was totally worth it.
We truly enjoy hosting the Multicolor Mile each year, and love seeing it make a SPLASH within the UMass community.
Of course, our traditions team could not accomplish all of this alone. Thank you to all who helped make this event possible, from our own volunteers, to the volunteers and support we received from: The Amherst Foundation Board, University Programming Council (UPC), Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, and Kappa Phi Lambda Fraternity. We would also like to thank T-Mobile, who has been a proud sponsor of the Multicolor Mile for the past two years.
SAA is always trying to engage students in their UMass experience. The Multicolor Mile is just one event where students can get involved and learn more about giving back to our campus. If you or someone you know wants to get involved in planning events like these, please email us at saa@umass.edu.
Written By:
Hallie Menchin
Publications Coordinator
Student Alumni Association