Eppie's Great Race Celebrates 42nd Year

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – What started as a way to promote a business has become a tradition centered on giving big.

Eppie Johnson died two years ago. While he leaves behind a legacy with his local restaurants, it's clear by the crowd at "Eppie's Great Race" Saturday that his legacy stretches far beyond food.

"It's really important, and one of the things that my dad said that his dad taught him was that you have to give back to the community that gave to you," said George Johnson, Eppie's son.

Since its start in 1974, Eppie's Great Race has raised more than a million dollars for the Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services (SCTRS), which supports those with mental and physical challenges.

"It's amazing, really. Not a lot of people understand what we do, so having such a big organization like Eppie's support us is such a big deal," said Jenn Wilson, a Recreation Specialist with SCTRS. "It makes a really big difference and a lot of people in the community now know what we are and what we do."

And what they do is create a winning experience for everyone involved.

"My dad was really proud to raise money. He got to see us cross over a million dollars for SCTRS," George said. "And we're just happy to continue that, you know. He did the first million and I'd to get at least a million more, if not more."

Money raised from the race now account for more than 20 percent of the group's overall budget.