Purple 5K

Spare Change for Real Change was created to bridge the gap between the city’s concerted efforts to impact homelessness and alleviate poverty, and the public’s participation in those efforts. Through education campaigns and providing an alternative to giving money, Spare Change for Real Change has become an effective program in our fight!

Spare Change for Real Change was created in 2005 by the Downtown Billings Alliance’s Business Improvement District, through partnership and involvement with larger city initiatives, including the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness, Visionary Business Council, and Billings Community Connect.

The Business Improvement District Board of Directors had 2 goals in mind in creating the program:
1. To encourage the public to reconsider their method of giving by reminding them that change given in the streets is too often used to feed an addiction, and there are other and better ways to give.
2. To empower the Business Improvement District in considering the welfare of the local businesses, and empowering business to positively impact the social issues we face as a community. As a result, they seek to use the program to educate community members throughout Billings about homelessness, at-risk individuals, and poverty.

Today, Spare Change for Real Change includes the Downtown Purple 5K (walk/run) and the Downtown CRIT (bike race). Proceeds from these events, along with donations made through our website, collection meters, and other gifts, are granted out to service providers who prove to be making effective impacts in our community. To date, we’ve granted over $80,000 to area providers!