Local Run for Kids’ Education Brightens the Road
This year marked the 5th year this 5K Run/Walk for Youth ran through Greenpoint and Williamsburg, which St. Nicks Alliance started to fund local youth activities. Just prior to last year’s 5K, Dime Community Bank offered their generous support and signed on for a three-year commitment as the naming sponsor, hence 2017 marked the 2nd year this run has been known as the Dime McCarren 5K.
This year’s 5K broke past participation and fundraising records. 681 runners and 191 walkers registered and marked a 20% increase from last year. The walkers also included a team of 60 who walked in memory of Michael Cawley Rochford, the son of Michael Rochford, Exec. Dir. of St. Nicks Alliance. All this support gives St. Nicks Alliance a good leg up to achieve their fundraising goal of $65,000. They will be accepting donations until June 30th.
North Brooklyn Runners’ (NBR) partnership with St. Nicks Alliance is a vital part of this event’s success, as it has been from the first M5K, 5 years ago. Their 300-plus active team members stride the streets of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick sporting their black and white logo shirts with pride while they bring their love of running to the community where they live.
This run/walk for youth is a family fun event as much as it is an athletic endeavor. Runners of all ages and physical levels compete. Along with heart-pumping action of watching the athletes cross the finish line, there is the heartwarming effect of seeing families run or walk together. Spectators catch a palpable wave of parents’ pride when moms and pops see their kids break past them to get to the finish line first.
Kenneth J. Mahon, Dime Community Bank President & CEO, stated, “On behalf of Dime, I want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Dime McCarren 5K. Overall, we had a great turnout and there was a great display of community support. As a result, many children in North Brooklyn will benefit from the After School and Summer Camp programs supported by this event.”
What sorts of activities does the money from the Dime McCarren 5K go toward? This year summer camp kids will experience: the Liberty Science Museum; Puppet Works, Inc.; bowling; Brooklyn Robot Foundry; Brooklyn Cyclones; movies; and other educational and recreational outings. As for this coming school year’s afterschool, thanks to the Dime McCarren 5K, funds will go to produce performance and art shows at PS 147, for just one example
After the runners had finished, awards were presented. As in years past, two types of awards were given: Community Leader Awards and the runner awards. Recognition went to: Luz Rosero, President of United Neighbors Organization (UNO), for her diligence in fighting displacement; Jason Taber, Pastor of St. John’s Brooklyn Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, for leading various community engagements; and three afterschool sites (PS 34, School Settlement Association, and Sumner Community Center) who were fundraising champions for the Dime McCarren 5K. Among those awarded for best running times were: Dennis Ryan (15:38), 1st overall; Marie Barnett (17:48), female best time and 13th overall; 12-year-old Ella Fajardo-Wilde (20:57) was 1st in the youth female 10-14 category; and 15-year-old Annabelle Broicher (24:01) achieved 1st in the female 15-19 category.
Keep stretching your limits until next year’s Dime McCarren 5K!
St. Nicks Alliance is still fundraising for its Youth Activities until June 30th. To donate go to: https://tinyurl.com/Give2SNAYouth
