Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers Donut Dash draws crowds, raises funds in Gatesville

Families, casual runners and competitive racers turned out at the Gatesville City Pool on Saturday, May 16, for the Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers Donut Dash, a chip-timed event that mixed a neighborhood feel with a clear public-safety mission. The race started and finished at the pool on South 8th Street in Gatesville and offered both 5K and 10K distances, giving Coryell County residents a local way to support an organization that says it helps fund crime-fighting efforts across Gatesville, Coryell County and Bosque County.

The top finishers showed the race was not just a walk-run fundraiser. Taylor Tellez, Diego Chavez and Antonio Montalvan led the 10K field, while Fernando Romo and Bryson Stevens finished at the front in the 5K. For the first time, the Donut Dash also included a Kids-K, an untimed run designed for children who wanted to take part without the pressure of a competitive race.

That youth addition gave the event a broader community reach. Last year’s Donut Dash drew nearly 60 participants, and the return of the Kids-K suggested the race is building beyond a standard road event into something families can make part of their spring routine in Gatesville. The setting at the city pool kept the focus squarely local, with the course anchored in town rather than on the edge of the county.

Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers uses events like the Donut Dash to support a model built on public trust and anonymous reporting. The organization says callers can remain anonymous and may receive a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest or grand jury indictment in a felony case. It also relies on volunteer directors and tax-deductible public contributions to stay active, which makes community turnout especially important for an organization that serves a defined local area.

That local support also matters as state funding remains part of the picture. Texas’ Crime Stoppers Assistance Fund set aside $400,000 for fiscal 2026 to help certified local Crime Stoppers groups, and certified organizations can apply for grants of up to $10,000, with higher limits in some cases. For Cen-Tex Crime Stoppers, the Donut Dash offered a visible way to bring residents into that public-safety network while keeping the focus on runners, children and the communities the group serves.