Walking With Purpose 2025: Stepping Into a New Year of Impact
As we close out the year and look ahead to new goals, Walking With Purpose 2025 stands as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when our community moves together with intention. This year’s challenge wasn’t just about miles; it was about momentum, teamwork, and setting the pace for what’s next.
Thanks to the dedication of our teams and individual walkers, Walking With Purpose 2025 became one of the most impactful years yet. Together, we walked farther, inspired more support, and strengthened our shared commitment to supporting students across Kalamazoo!
A Record-Breaking Year, Powered by Teams
One of our biggest goals for 2025 was to grow school and team participation, and our community delivered beyond expectations. With more teams and walkers than ever before, the energy never slowed from the kickoff walk at Woodward School to the final miles logged at the end of October.
Our collective goal was 12,000 miles. One mile for each of the 12,000+ students in schools supported by CIS. Thanks to the incredible commitment of our teams, that goal was not only met, but exceeded in a big way.
- 40 teams and nearly 1,000 walkers participated
- Over 34,000 miles were walked
- Nearly $60,000 was raised, including almost $50,000 raised by walkers
Each mile and every dollar represent real support for students, helping ensure they have what they need to stay in school and achieve in life.
Celebrating Our Top Teams
Walking With Purpose 2025 was powered by teams who showed up with energy, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to students. From friendly competition to consistent leadership, these teams set the pace all month long and helped make this year one of our strongest yet.
We are proud to recognize the teams who raised the most donations, truly leading the way in 2025:
- Zoetis 1000 Miles – Raised $10,982
- Woodward Wolves – Raised $6,024
- CWS Walkers – Raised $3,504
- Team Walkabout – Raised $3,000
- Too Inspired to Be Tired – Raised $2,099
- Strolling For Students – Raised $2,008
- Tipsy Trekkers – Raised $1,860
- FEMA Corporation – Raised $1,500
- Woods Lake Elementary Wolverines – Raised $1,453
- BecauseKids – Raised $1,160
To our top teams, our individual walkers and all who contributed, you’ve all turned every mile into meaningful impact. You each brought your own spark to the challenge. Motivating walkers and building community. Your dedication raised the bar and showed what it truly means to walk with purpose. Because of you, students across Kalamazoo are better supported today, and every step forward counts toward a brighter future!
Let’s not forget to congratulate our top independent walker of Walking With Purpose, Linnaea Thomas! She’s put in the steps and certainly put in the hard work of raising money independently. We hope you took some time to give your feet a rest, and congratulations again!
Linnaea Thomas raised $1,550!
Walking With Purpose School Competition
Embracing the spirit of friendly competition, CIS coordinated a special challenge for the school teams this year. We are delighted that 9 school teams participated, and pleased to recognize the teams that rose to the top based on several different types of engagement:
Rising Star Award (Tie):
Lincoln International Studies Elementary and Woods Lake Elementary
The Rising Star Award recognizes teams whose consistency, teamwork, and energy stood out all month long. In 2025, the competition was so close that we proudly awarded a tie, honoring two schools that stayed neck and neck from start to finish.
The Lincoln Lions brought incredible momentum to the challenge with 31 team members, raising $1,145 and logging 1,925 miles, showing up week after week with heart and determination.
The Woods Lake Elementary Wolverines matched that energy every step of the way. Their 33-member team raised $1,453 and walked 1,672 miles, including miles logged by guest walkers, making their impact even stronger.
Both teams embodied the spirit of Walking with Purpose, friendly competition, school pride, and a shared belief in the greatness of every child. Their dedication helped make this year’s school competition our strongest yet and reflects the growing partnership between CIS and the schools we support.
Step by step, school by school, and child by child, we are truly in this together.
These teams exemplified teamwork, motivation, and school pride all month long!
MVP Award:
This year we did something a little different and had the school teams nominate an MVP from their school. Our Walking With Purpose planning committee then reviewed the nominations and selected the 2025 MVP.
The warrior of walking, the titan of trash talk, the master of mileage, our MVP trophy was awarded to Principal Frank Rocco of Woodward! Principal Rocco raised over $1,120 for the Woodward Wolves team and logged an incredible 306 miles during the month of October!
Principal Rocco was nominated for MVP by his team captain and she proved exactly why he deserved this award with this quote: “Rocco inspires others by showing up and doing his best every day. He raises the most money, he walks the most miles, he always replies to the team captain’s emails with encouraging messages of clapping emojis or a “let’s go”. He was out walking every single day before school!”
Congratulations and thank you for your hard work and true dedication to walking with a purpose! From your school spirit to your determination to reaching the finish line, you deserved this award.
All-Around Champion:
Woodward Elementary
With an incredible 4,295 miles walked and $6,024 raised, Woodward Elementary claimed the All-Around Champion title in decisive fashion. Their performance set the bar high and made it clear that their consistency, leadership, and team spirit were unmatched throughout the entire challenge.
From rallying participation to fueling friendly competition, the Woodward team embraced Walking with Purpose with passion and pride. Their dedication reflects what this challenge is truly about, showing up for students and making sure they have the support they need to succeed.
Congratulations to Woodward Elementary for once again leading the way and proving why champions walk with purpose!
Weekly and Pop-up Challenge Winners
Each week had challenges that kept the momentum strong and the friendly competition alive. In 2025 we also introduced pop-up challenges to add an element of surprise and inspire new engagement throughout the month. We’re proud to recognize the individuals and teams who rose to the occasion:
Weekly challenges:
- Week 1: Most laps at the kick-off walk on October 1
Winner: Principal Frank Rocco
- Week 2: Most raised by end of week
Winner: Linnaea Thomas
- Week 3: Scenic selfie photo challenge
Winner: Erik Eldred
- Week 4: Team spirit photo challenge
Winner: Team Strolling For Students
Pop-up challenges:
- Pop-up Challenge 1: Most raised in donations through Cider and Scenery ticket purchases
Winner: Amy Terzino of Promise Penguins
- Pop-up Challenge 2: First individual to raise $500
Winner: Laurel Wong of the Woodward Wolves
- Pop-up Challenge 3: Tag CIS in a sunny walk social media post
Winner: Heather Gatton of the Woodward Wolves
- Pop-up Challenge 4: Give or raise $100 during specified time period (drawing):
Winner: Dr. Candy McCorkle
- Pop-up Challenge 5: Highest number of donations received during the final stretch of the school challenge
Winner: Woods Lake Principal Sierra Prather
- Pop-up Challenge 6: Highest number of donations received
Winner: Blaec Arevalo of Too Inspired To Be Tired
Thank you for bringing creativity, consistency, and excitement to every challenge!
The Champions That Make It Possible: Our Sponsors
We express with deep gratitude to our sponsors for being present and contributing to a beautiful cause! Without them, this would not have been possible.
- Presenting sponsor: Consumers Credit Union
- Supporting sponsors: CWS Financial Advisors, Flowserve, Old National Bank, OnStaff USA, Walbridge, and Warner Norcross + Judd
- In-kind sponsors: Gazelle Sports, Rose Wellbeing, and Husted’s Farm Market
- Prize donors: Bell’s Brewery, Catherine Nails, Earth Body Pottery, Martini’s, One Well, Pure Barre Kalamazoo, Tigerlily Therapy
Special Thank You to Our Biggest Champion of All: Student Ambassador Ariel!
Not only does Ariel inspire us with her resilience and hard work at school, she also kept us inspired and motivated throughout Walking With Purpose. She cheered us on at the kick-off walk, shared thoughtful encouragement, and made us smile through her video and written messages. Thank you, Ariel, for bringing your positive energy and wonderful smile to Walking With Purpose.
To Everyone In Our Walking With Purpose Family, Thank You
The CIS family thanks you for your contribution to the community!
What makes this work so meaningful isn’t just the miles walked, it’s the people behind them. Walking With Purpose is a reminder that when a community shows up with intention, students feel supported, seen, and empowered to keep moving forward.
To everyone who stepped in, gave their time, and believed in this mission, thank you. Your commitment continues to shape brighter futures for Kalamazoo students, one step at a time.
Looking Ahead: Goals for Walking With Purpose 2026
As we step into the new year, Walking With Purpose 2025 sets a strong foundation for what’s ahead. In 2026, we’re aiming to:
- Expand school and team participation even further
- Continue building friendly competition that motivates and connects our community
- Strengthen team leadership and engagement throughout the month
The bar has been raised, and we’re excited to see how far we’ll go together next.
Walking Forward, Together
Walking With Purpose is more than a challenge, it’s a reflection of the power of community. Because of you, students across Kalamazoo are surrounded with care, encouragement, and opportunity.
As we move into a new year filled with new goals, thank you for continuing to walk alongside our students today, tomorrow, and every step of the way!
Tags: Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Walking With Purpose
