The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s 2014-15 Teen Leaders in Philanthropy will host the second annual “Hunt for Hope” event on Saturday, April 4.
Children ages 7 and up will be able to participate in a scavenger hunt to help fund OMRF researchers who are doing a little hunting of their own — for life-saving medical discoveries.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lion’s Club Children’s Playground by Lake Hefner. The playground is located at 9050 Lake Hefner off Lake Hefner Parkway and the Britton Road exit, south of the Lakeside restaurants. Saucee Sicilian and Kona Ice will also have food trucks onsite for the event.
General admission for the family-friendly event is $5 per person. Scavenger hunters will pay $8 to participate. Both admission fees cover a wide variety of games and activities, including a raffle, donut walk, face painting, egg hunt, penny drop and duck pond prize pull.
Each person who completes the scavenger hunt will receive a raffle ticket for prizes to be awarded during the afternoon.
All proceeds will benefit autoimmune disease research at OMRF, chosen by the OMRF Teen Leaders in Philanthropy as this year’s beneficiary. Autoimmune diseases are disorders in which the body’s immune system becomes confused or unbalanced and turns against the body instead of protecting it. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Sjögren’s syndrome all fall under the autoimmune disease category.
OMRF’s Teen Leaders are high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from schools across the state of Oklahoma interested in learning how to give back to their community.
“We have really enjoyed having such a dynamic group of students come to OMRF and learn about the importance of philanthropy,” said OMRF Director of Development Kelley McGuire. “Their passion to make a difference by supporting autoimmune disease research is inspiring.”
Many of these teens have relatives or friends who are fighting diseases like lupus or MS, said McGuire, so it’s great to see the group take action to help OMRF in its research efforts in those areas. “These students are learning how to be a part of real grassroots philanthropy.”
Those who can’t attend the Hunt for Hope event can still support the campaign with the purchase of a T-shirt at www.booster.com/omrfteenleaders by April 6.
More information about the Hunt for Hope event can be found at this link: www.omrf.org/hunt4hope or by contacting Allison Parker or Kelley McGuire in the OMRF Development office at 405-271-7400.
