The Tustin City Council is recognizing Diane and Gerry Aust for chairing the Tustin Public Schools Foundation’s 25th annual Dinosaur Dash at the city council meeting on Tuesday, November 17, at 7 p.m. at Tustin City Hall, 300 Centennial Way. Please join us that evening for the special presentation.
Background Information
After being in existence for one year, the Tustin Public Schools Foundation decided they needed a major fundraiser. A committee was formed of board and community members, which included Diane and Gerry Aust – both educators in the Tustin Unified School District and residents in the Tustin community. The committee designed the “Race of the Millennium” which was held on Sunday, December 1, 1991, and consisted of a 2K Brontosaurus Blitz and a 5K Dinosaur Dash.
At the inaugural Dinosaur Dash, there were almost 1,500 runners and 200 volunteers. Diane and Gerry Aust were School Coordinators and Chairs of the Brontosaurus Blitz Fun Run. The 2K was started by then Mayor Chuck Puckett. The committee was thrilled when they realized they netted $10,000 to be donated back to the classrooms in the 15 schools in the Tustin Unified School District.
On Sunday, November 1, the Dinosaur Dash celebrated its 25th anniversary and hit a milestone! There were almost 7,000 runners, walkers and bikers, and over 700 volunteers. Nearly $200,000 was raised to be donated back to the 29 schools in TUSD. Once again, Diane and Gerry chaired the entire event and Mayor Chuck Puckett started the 2K Race. For the past 25 years the Austs have served on the Dinosaur Dash team and are known as two of the “dinosaurs” of this committee. They also have co-chaired the event for the past several years. They are proud of the dollars the Dinosaur Dash has raised over the years for students and schools in TUSD!
We hope you can attend the presentation at the Tustin City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 17, at 7 p.m.
Congratulations on a well-deserved honor, Diane and Gerry! You two are Dino-mite!
Source: Mark Eliot
Director of Communications and Public Information
Tustin Unified School District
Twitter: @TUSDschools
