NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (May 2, 2022) – The Purity Moosic City Dairy Dash Committee has presented this year’s race charity recipient, Youth Encouragement Services (YES), with a record-breaking donation of $165,000.
In its 22nd year, the Purity Moosic City Dairy Dash selects one Middle Tennessee charity as their race recipient each year. This year’s race took place on April 9. To date, the event has raised more than $1.5 million to support Middle Tennessee charities.
YES operates the Lindsley and Carpenter’s Square Centers, providing educational and recreational programs to more than 150 children in grades K-12 during their crucial after school time and summer months. YES also provides tutoring services, mentor programs, Bible camp and athletic leagues. YES vans transport children after school each day to and from the centers. For more than 65 years, YES has provided daily care and a safe place for Nashville’s youth living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“Our organization is so honored and blessed to receive this year’s record-setting donation from the Purity Moosic Music Dairy Dash. We thank the race committee and all of the walkers and runners who participated,” said Viva Price, Executive Director, Youth Encouragement Services. “This donation will allow us to continue our work that provides Nashville children a place to feel physically, emotionally and socially safe. We know that one in five Tennessee families are living in poverty and food insecurity. This is a reality for nine of our 10 kids enrolled. We care for the whole child, mentally and physically, and offer a safe place to go after school place to learn, grow and have a meal with friends. These children deserve opportunity, and this donation will allow us to grow our summer programs that provide nearly three meals a day for each child.”
Each year committee members select a different organization as the race’s beneficiary. Last year’s proceeds were donated to The Ronald McDonald House; other organizations supported by the race include, Alive Hospice, the Jason Foundation, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics of Tennessee and the American Cancer Society.
The Purity Moosic City Dairy Dash began in 2000 when Frank Schmidt, a local marathoner started the race to honor the memory of his best friend, Glenn Wunder, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. Nearly 400 people ran in the first race and raised $5,000 for the American Cancer Society.
“Because of the generosity of our race committee, volunteers, sponsors and hundreds of runners, we are presenting our largest donation to Youth Encouragement Service today. We believe in the important work they are doing in Nashville as they provide hope for local children with their after school and summer programs,” said Randy Moody, Ice Cream Sales Manager at Purity Dairies.
About Purity Dairies
For 80 years, Purity Dairies has maintained the highest standards possible to ensure freshness and great taste in its extensive line of dairy products. Purity Dairies began in Nashville in 1926 by Miles Ezell, and since then has grown to service Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. Three hundred employees make up the Purity family, many of whom have been with the company for decades. Purity Dairies is owned by Dairy Farmers of America, the nation’s largest ‘Farmer Owned Cooperative’ and produces 150 premium milk products, including milk, cottage cheese and sour cream, and two hundred ice cream and frozen products.
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