If you're feeling a bit foolish because you can't keep track of who's organizing Kutztown's Fools' Run, don't. The race is changing hands once again.

When Kutztown University (KU) announced last February that they were cancelling this year's Fools' Run, they said they were looking for a partner in the project.

"It takes a lot of manpower to run the event," said Matthew Santos, KU's assistant director of community relations, and six-year race co-chair.

The university took over the project from the Kutztown Area Chamber of Commerce last December, when the work involved in staging the race became to intense for the group which employs only two part-time staff members.

"We thought we'd keep it going," said Santos, explaining KU benefits from the race, which provides scholarships to graduating seniors in Kutztown Area School District, as well as neighboring Fleetwood and Brandywine Heights Area school districts. In its 14 years, the race has provided more than $125,000 in scholarship money.

But the move didn't come in time to get things up and running for the 2006 race.

Several groups read about the cancellation and call for help in the Kutztown Area Patriot and called Santos, expressing interest in the project. One of the groups was based as far away as Maryland.

But the organization that caught Santos's eye was Kutztown's Optimist Club.

"Their mission and goals are in line with the race's goal," Santos said.

According to the Optimist Club's Don Sechler, the organization already has a scholarship fund. The Donald Peters Memorial Fund has been in place for about three years, and its funding level is about 60 percent of where it needs to be to distribute money.

Proceeds from the Fools' Run will add to the fund, and allow members to distribute money in just one year.

"This will be a big shot in the arm," Sechler said.

KU staff were so confident in the club's ability to handle the job, they turned the reigns over to the group rather than deciding to share the responsibility.

"We decided to give them the whole thing," Santos said. "It's a Kutztown entity." He added KU's athletic department will continue to provide race day support.

Sechler is confident the Optimist Club can handle the job. He said they have 115 members, 40 of which will actively participate in the race.

He's also looking for help from the newly-formed KU Optimist Club, which boasts 30 members, as well as friends of the late Peters.

"It takes about 100 people on race day," Santos said, and added, "We wanted to keep it here in town, and keep people interested."

The 10-mile or 5K race is tentatively scheduled for March 31. Organizers plan for the course to remain the same, but will move the staging area for the day to the Kutztown Fairgrounds.

The race brings an average of 425 runners to town.

"We don't think the runner will notice a difference," Sechler said of the change of hands.

"We had a lot of feedback from runners saying they're glad it's coming back," Santos said, explaining this year will be crucial in keeping the race going.

"If people will come out, they'll have a good experience, and continue it," he said.

For more information, call Don Sechler at 610-683-3157 or e-mail kutztownoptimist@hotmail.com, or visit the Web site, www.kutztownfoolsrun.com.

Contact Penny at plhummel@berksmontnews.com.