During the 2019 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 4, there were 22 pit stations staffed by 22 enthusiastic organizations, companies and groups that came together from all over Indiana to hand out water and Gatorade to participants during the race.
Every year, pit station members dress in costumes and decorate their areas to amp up their location and motivate participants as they pass by. Group members are on their feet all morning, cheering and preparing for thousands of runners and walkers to pass by their station. The Indy Mini wouldn’t be possible without these individuals who volunteer their Saturday morning to help runners and walkers reach their goals.
This year was special as the Indy Mini fell on May 4th, otherwise known as “May the Fourth Be with You,” the unofficial holiday of the Star Wars franchise. To celebrate the day, Citizens Energy Group stood out with – you guessed it – a Star Wars theme! Citizens Energy Group is the presenting sponsor of the 500 Festival Volunteer Program and has had a pit station for eight years – making it a long-standing tradition for the employees and their families.
Seven years ago, when Citizens came on board as the sponsor of the 500 Festival’s Volunteer Program, they hosted a small pit station during the Indy Mini with approximately 30 employee volunteers. They had an enjoyable and positive experience, and have since grown to a 100-person pit station inside turn one of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Employees and their families look forward to the Indy Mini every year, cheering on and providing hydration to the participants. One of their favorite parts is seeing the same kids participate every year and seeing how much they continue to grow!
The 500 Festival is fortunate to have a community of organizations and companies that come together every year to pass water and Gatorade to our Indy Mini participants!
Thank you to all of our volunteers!