OTHELLO — Columbia Basin Health Association (CBHA) recently donated $5,000 to each of the cities it serves – Othello, Connell and Mattawa. The donations were from the money raised in last year’s CBHA Run for a Cause Color Run.

Courtney Martinez, operations analyst for CBHA, said that the donations were from local businesses and community members.

“We were able to take portions of that and give to cities and families to improve childhood health,” Martinez said. “The expectation is that the money will be used for parks and/or outdoor activities.”

So far, CBHA has held two Run for a Cause Color Runs. The first year, CBHA donated the money raised to three families that needed assistance in caring for their children with disabilities.

“It was based on the family’s need,” Martinez said.

From the 2019 color run, CBHA decided to donate money to the three cities themselves so all children in those communities could benefit. Currently families in need are also being considered for selection.

“We really wanted to give back to the community and to give back in that way,” Martinez said.

Two cities, Mattawa and Othello, have said that they will use the money for improving their city parks.

“We’re shocked,” said Juan Ledezma, Mattawa public works director. “It’s good that it came through at this time. With the COVID-19 epidemic, we have limited resources for the community.”

While the city of Mattawa doesn’t have any current plans for how the money will be used, it is looking into items such as playground equipment, water fountains, trash cans or new benches for the skate park.

“We want to maximize our usage for it (the donation),” Ledezma said.

The city of Othello will also be using the money to upgrade the Lions Park playground and basketball courts.

“In the past year, our team has been putting together several grant applications to bring a whole new look to the Lions Park Playground and basketball area,” said Randy Gomez, parks and recreation coordinator for the city of Othello. “There will be trees for shading, picnic tables around each area, trash receptacles and fully handicap accessible playground surface and challenging playground equipment for 2- to 5- and 5- to 12-year-old children. This is going to be a destination playground and basketball court area. With this generous donation we will use it to help put an edge in our application so we can bring this destination playground and basketball courts to the community of Othello.”

Gomez thanked CBHA for considering the city with “such a generous donation.”

“The mayor and the Parks and Recreation Department are extremely thankful for all that CBHA does for our community, but also for all the other communities in the Columbia Basin area,” Gomez said.

The city of Connell was also honored to get the CBHA donation, according to City Clerk Marissa Ortiz. While the city doesn’t have any definite plans for the money yet, it will be used for parks and recreation.

Currently, CBHA is accepting pre-registration for the third annual color run. The run will be held the last Saturday of August. Because of COVID-19, the registration for the run is free.

“Donors are still contributing,” Martinez said. “We are receiving good-sized contributions from donors.”

So far, over 500 people have pre-registered.

“If they all show up, that would be great,” Martinez said.

To learn more about the CBHA Run for a Cause Color Run, visit cbharunforacause.com.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.