Exemplifying the creativity and community spirit in Culver City, guests on teams from schools, neighborhoods, companies, clubs, and agencies, many dressed as their favorite screen stars, will compete for prizes, laughs, and adulation in the Screenland 5K on March 10 at Ivy Station.
Sponsors’ teams, including the Culver City Rotary Foundation, are helping the all-volunteer committee develop community pride, provide extraordinary experiences and support local non-profits.
“We look forward to continuing our commitment to this city, raising money for local and international philanthropic projects,” said local Rotary Foundation President Keith Jones, whose group has been “spinning its wheel” for the past 80 years to support education and community programs.
“Screenland 5K will be awesome. We can’t wait to participate,” said Jones.
Rotary has been encouraging people of all ages and abilities to follow the Yellow Brick Road into motion picture magic. This year’s eighth annual event offers movie and TV experiences with character performances and community art at the Health and Fitness Expo and along the course.
The club will be as active as the walkers and runners, participating in many race weekend activities, including the Olympic Torch Re- lay, Celebrity Trike Race, contests, registration, and performances.
“We love the event. Everyone comes out, and it’s great to see friends supporting each other,” said Rotary Club Past President Carmela Raack, who volunteered in the inaugural race during the city’s centennial celebration in 2017.
Demonstrating its mantra of“Service above Self,” it will be a team effort for Rotary and its families.
Club Treasurer Jane Leonard will assume the late Jozelle Smith’s role as the famous “Wicked Witch of the West,” reprimanding all “Dorothys” on the course. Leonard will also perform in the opening act with Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Glinda the Good Witch of the North, and the PTA Honorary Service Awards all-stars.
Rotary Club President Heather Witt, a professional voice-over artist, will lead the movie-themed Rotary team along the yellow brick road and onto the red carpet. Jones’ Marina Martial Arts students will perform a scene from Bruce Lee’s Green Hornet on the course. Raack, Youth Service Co-Chair Lori Siegal, Directors Griselda Espinoza and Brent Weeth, and other club members will judge the Screenland 5K Costume Contest in various categories with the help of Culver City Council PTA. Linda and Joel Forman and other Rotarians will volunteer at the Health and Fitness Expo desk and Rotary Club service booth. Member Jim Shanman of Walk ‘n Rollers will lead the Munchkin Dash and Celebrity Trike Race. Longstanding Rotary member and event sponsor Dannie Cavanaugh will run in the Torch Relay at Ivy Station with other local heroes, promoting peace and goodwill during the Olympic year.
“The club loves getting in- volved in the race, as it in- cludes many of our goals for the community,” said Witt.
“We’re all in. This event showcases local visual and performing arts talent, honors unsung heroes, and performs a role in maintaining the physi cal and mental health of the city’s residents,” said Jones.
According to Jones, the local Rotary Club established and built Culver City’s only affordable senior citizen apartment in the mid-70s in partnership with the City. Rotary Plaza continues to serve many low- income residents from the area.
“This project hasn’t been replicated anywhere in Southern California,” Jones said.
Culver City Rotary Foundation also funds Backpacks for kids, and free dictionaries for every Culver City public school third grader.
Other Screenland 5K sponsors include Culver City Toyota, City of Culver City, Ting, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ivy Station, Design Etcetera, Midwest Roofing, WorldCAST, West Basin Municipal Water District, Cavanaugh Realtors, The Shay Hotel, Alliance CrossFit, Sorrento Italian Market, Jackson Market, and Marina Martial Arts.
Sign-up at screenland5K.com. Enjoy a 20% discount by entering coupon code ROTARY until Feb. 9.
