Friends of Boys State Scholarship Fundraiser, 6-9PM (Draft)

An evening (6-9PM) of family fun and fellowship in Anderson, SC as we honor special members of the Palmetto Boys State Family: David Hortman, Betty Lewis, and Tucker Hipps. Join us for Dinner, Entertainment, Family Activities, Silent Auction, and MORE! 

IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE 6/2/2022 – Due to circumstances beyond our control, our 5K run/walk will not take place this year. We apologize for this late change and inconvenience, especially for our faithful participants and supporters. We will carry on with plans for dinner and activities scheduled for June 11th at AU’s Athletic Campus. We hope you will continue in your plans to join us for the evening as we remember and celebrate our Honorees, all in support of Boys State scholarships. If you would like a refund as a result of the 5K not taking place, we are glad to provide a full refund for anyone unable to attend due to this change. Please let us know by emailing ryan@davesrun.com.  

Dinner Ticket sales closed on Sun night, June 5th - Walk-up dinner tickets will be first come / first served while supplies last.

MORE DETAILS for our FRIENDS OF BOYS STATE event:

Our event was founded in 2012 in honor of CPT David Hortman, a Byrnes High School graduate, PBS staff member, and highly decorated and respected Army officer and pilot. Dave was also a fitness fanatic with a contagious smile and a fun-filled heart. Dave's commitment to Boys State and love for physical training led to the creation of our 5K event in hopes of providing funding for more young men to attend Palmetto Boys State. We remember Dave's humility, sense of humor, and his brave service and sacrifice for our nation's freedom. We are thankful to have the support of Dave's mom Brenda, his sister Jill, and their family as we continue to celebrate the life of our friend and American Hero, CPT David Hortman. (Learn more at davesrun.com)

In early 2022, Friends of Boys State in partnership with the Palmetto Boys State planning conference agreed to add additional honorees to our event. This year, we are pleased to announce that as we continue to remember CPT David Hortman through the Friends of Boys State 5K, we will also honor Betty Lewis and Tucker Hipps.

Betty Lewis may be best known among the Boys State family as our matriarch, wife of PBS Secretary/Treasurer Rev. Dr. Sinclair Lewis, and mother of PBS staff members Tim and Stephen Lewis, but she was also known among countless communities throughout South Carolina as a tireless servant, compassionate advocate, and a faithful friend. Betty worked hard to provide care for the needy, to promote social justice for all, and to help establish homes for abused peoples in many communities in our state. She supported and participated in our 5K event for many years alongside her children and grandchildren. Her great examples of faith, family, servanthood, and love for others lives on through the Boys State family and we are excited to add Betty Lewis as an honoree this year. (Learn more about one of the organizations Betty impacted most at safeharborsc.org)

Tucker Hipps, the son of Gary and Cindy Hipps, attended Boys State as a Citizen in 2012, representing Wren High School, and earned the opportunity to serve as a WPBS Sports Reporter. Because of his leadership qualities and example, Tucker was chosen from almost 1,000 PBS Citizens to return in 2013 as a Junior Counselor and helped his city Chattooga win the coveted All PBS City Award. Tucker was invited back again in 2014 as a Senior Counselor, leading the Brothers of Santee City. That summer, a few days after serving as a volunteer for our 5K event, he posted these words on social media, "Boys State can't be explained, it has to be experienced #Brotherhood." Tucker Hipps embodied the values of Palmetto Boys State and we are pleased to honor his legacy that lives on through the Counselors and Citizens attending Palmetto Boys State each summer. (Learn more at tuckergives.org)

Our event will be moving to an evening format and adding family activities, dinner, a silent auction, and more, all in hopes of increasing participation and local support, providing more scholarships for rising high school seniors to attend Palmetto Boys State - an effort that all three of our honorees strongly supported. 

Our 11th annual event is sponsored by Friends of Boys State (FOBS), a non-profit organization supporting the American Legion Palmetto Boys State program.  All proceeds will go directly to Friends of Boys State and provide scholarships for deserving individuals who may need financial assistance to help make their experience at Palmetto Boys State a reality. 

For those already registered for the event before our change on 6/2/22, your registration includes one race shirt and one event meal. Dinner tickets have now been closed, but meals for friends and family can be purchased at the event, while supplies last.

Performance event shirts are available at the STORE tab for $20.00. Walk up meals will be available the day of the event while supplies last for $15.00. 

Please follow updates on social media: Twitter & Instagram @DavesRunSC and Facebook @DavesRun. Also, please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for the event, providing silent auction item(s), and/or supporting this event through corporate sponsorship.