One hundred runners are expected to take off from Flat Branch Park on Saturday in the first annual Jumpstart Spark a Life 5K. Jumpstart is a nationwide nonprofit literacy organization in which college students help tutor low-income preschool children.

“In Columbia, we provide after school literacy sessions to over 270 low-income preschoolers in 16 classrooms throughout the year,” Jumpstart volunteer coordinator Tim Opfer says. “These children learn essential language and literacy skills to help close the education gap between them and their higher income peers and to more adequately prepare them for kindergarten.”

One hundred students from the University of Missouri and Columbia College, 21 administrators and two full-time site directors make up the team that carries out this mission. Student volunteers benefit from involvement by receiving roughly 60 hours of early childhood training each year.

Jumpstart is also part of the AmeriCorps network that engages more than 80,000 Americans in service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. As a member of Jumpstart, volunteers are also automatically members of AmeriCorps, giving them opportunities for service at the state and national levels.

“This is Jumpstart’s first attempt at a 5K fundraiser, and there has definitely been a learning curve to it,” Opfer says. “We have nearly hit our participant goal for the first year. We hope to continue to grow that number in the future, to both increase Jumpstart awareness in the community and make it a major fundraiser for our organization.”

Five- and 10-kilometer races are becoming increasingly popular fundraising events on campus — Trulaske College of Business hosted an event for Kenya in early April, and the School of Law held its annual Tim Heinsz 5K & Jim Devine Dog Walk last weekend. Jumpstart seems to be taking advantage of Columbia’s recent spring weather –– perfect race conditions.

Throughout the year, Jumpstart takes part in service throughout Columbia, including facilitating a Jump Into Reading program, managing an Adopt-A-Spot location and volunteering at local food banks.

“(Jumpstart has) an aim to give back and serve the community as a whole,” Opfer says.