DAPHNE, Ala.—Proceeds from Saturday’s fifth annual Classic Rock 5K and Fun Run will directly benefit Daphne’ schools facing dramatic budget cuts, according to a spokesperson for event sponsor, Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne’s Schools.

“Currently, the Baldwin County Public School System faces a demand to reduce its budget by $47 million over this year and next,” county public-school system spokesperson Terry Wilhite said. “More than $23 million is immediate.”

SEEDS executive director Denise D’Oliveira said she has informally spoken with area foundations and expects the resources they can provide this year to be more necessary than ever.

Indeed; “These reductions we are faced with are catastrophic and unprecedented,” Wilhite said.

Saturday’s SEEDS fundraiser  aims to significantly add to more than $83,000 the organization has collected since 2005 to support the city’s five public  schools and Christ the King Catholic School.

“We distributed $35,000 in direct gains to the schools in August 2008 and funded a number of other programs and projects that support or expand instruction,” D’Oliveira said.

Some of the programs include: summer lyceum scholarships, collaborative planning meetings for Daphne school officials and PTA leaders and the SEEDS Summit, a community conversation centered on education.

“Our fundraising goal for the 2010 fiscal year is $70,000,” D’Oliveria said. “We are working to maintain or increase our grant programs, expand summer lyceum course offerings and provide scholarships for International Baccalaureate students.”

The 5K race event begins at 8 a.m. at the Daphne Public Library and follows a flat, looped course through Olde Towne.

Participants in the fun run start at Daphne City Hall at 9 a.m. and finish at the library.

Attendees are invited to the post-race party featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, door prizes and live music from the Tempest Band.

All can hear the sounds of classic rock as they compete for division medals. Overall winners will receive museum gifts from the International Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Parking is available at the Daphne Civic Center complex area and near City Hall; a shuttle will run between the two locations.

Day-of-race registration is from 7 to 7:45 a.m. in front of the library. The 5K entry fee is $20 and fun-run entry costs $10.

Registration forms are available at local fitness centers and at seedsindaphne.org.

Online registration at www.active.com will continue today until midnight.

For more info, visit SEEDS online or call 626-SEED.