For nearly two decades, the Winter Park Health Foundation has proudly supported the Fast Start Track and Field Invitational – an exciting and rewarding way for local elementary school students to develop a love of running and build healthy habits they can carry into adulthood.

“We have really been the facilitator between the Fast Start organization and the eight schools that we work with here in the Winter Park, Maitland, Eatonville area,” said WPHF Executive Vice President Debbie Watson. “Seeing a whole generation of kids, and then some, that have developed a love for activity and a love for running, it’s just fantastic.”

Not only did the Winter Park Health Foundation connect Fast Start’s founder, Scott Millson, with the schools that participate, we also provide sponsorship funding and coordination assistance for the event, which takes place annually at Winter Park High School’s Showalter Field.

“When I had this idea, I had no idea how to get it off the ground. I got in touch with the Winter Park Health Foundation. Since then, they’ve been our super highway,” said Millson. “This does not exist without the Winter Park Health Foundation. They’ve been tremendous partners.”

Our WPHF team got to experience the impact firsthand as we volunteered at the 19th annual Invitational on Saturday, January 25, helping out at one of the long jump pits. It was amazing to see how happy and engaged all the kids were. They had a blast, and so did we!

We appreciate Scott, his wife, Kristin, and everyone who makes Fast Start possible for this partnership.