An OU student public relations campaign group will host a 5k and one-mile fun run Saturday in Tulsa to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.

Amanda Easley, public relations senior and spokeswoman for the class group, BOOMPR, said the “Run for a Little, Help for a Lot” 5k is part of a semester-long project for the its Public Relations Campaign class.

“Our professor actually assigned organizations to groups,” Easley said. “Choosing a 5k worked out in our favor because we were throwing around a lot of different ideas.”

Most of the money raised will go toward the matching process that pairs children with approved adult volunteers, said public relations senior Jessica Prater, account executive for BOOMPR.

“[Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma] has to do background checks for every single person that applies, and the interview process can be quite expensive,” Prater said.

National research on the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has shown participating children display more confidence in the classroom, experience improved family relations and exhibit less drug use, according to a press release.

And the 5k could not have taken place at a better time.

Big Brother Big Sisters of Oklahoma now faces a $1.6 million federal budget cut in funding. Brian Carr, the recruiter for program’s Tulsa office, said this cut eliminates a grant for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program.

To combat financial difficulties, the program is looking to raise money mostly through private donations, Carr said.

So far, 60 to 70 people have registered for the race, but Easley said she expects the number to double by the end of registration.

GO AND DO

Run in the race

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. and

9 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Tulsa

INFO: www.runforalittle5k.eventbrite.com