We were recently asked to work on a project for Lily Lake Grade School’s annual Fun Run, an all-school fundraiser that generates funds to help pay for school initiatives. Monies raised help pay for Smart Boards in classrooms, school assemblies, author visits, and student classroom needs. The event is held at Lily Lake Grade Schools’s outdoor track and is sponsored by the Lily Lake Grade School Parent Teacher Council.

The fun run this year needed a new logo – something that was bright, engaging, and would help motivate everyone involved. We knew we had to help, so we took the project under our wings.

We created the fun run logo with the intention of combining education, imagination, and the importance of the word Fun in Fun Run.

On the day of the run, the students gathered to race around the track in the name of good health while raising funds for their school. Each student received a T-shirt with the fun run logo on it for participating. The logo was also used in promotional and sponsorship materials for the event.

Annually, nearly 200 student racers run up to 6 miles while being cheered on by teachers, parents, and community members. In 2017, more than $8,500 was raised for Lily Lake Grade School and the event brought together the entire school community for a day of fitness and fun. Lily Lake Grade School is located in Maple Park, Illinois, about 50 miles west of Chicago.

We loved working on this passion project and felt its bright colors and fun message were calling for an award. We’re happy to announce our Lily Lake Fun Run Logo has won a Communitas Award in the category of Pro Bono Work. The Communitas Awards recognize exceptional businesses, organizations, and individuals doing business to benefit their communities. You can learn more about the awards here.

There are factors to consider before accepting pro bono work, such as who the organization is, the project scope, how much time would need to be donated to the project, and if the deadline is manageable or if it interferes with other client work. We believe in the good of pro bono work, as it’s a way to use our professional skills in a way that benefits nonprofits and community organizations.

If you’re interested in taking on pro bono projects, we recommend you start by supporting a cause you believe in and are passionate about. Start by looking at what you’re most passionate about and how much time you can give, and go from there. We’re confident you’ll be able to share your professional skills with the right cause.