Katie Moore, major gifts and campaign manager for UMFS, has a personal connection to Nutzy’s Rotary Funn Run & Block Party. Her organization, as well as the Flying Squirrels Charities, benefit from the popular run. “We are raising money for the event, participating in it, and volunteering,” Moore says.
The Flying Squirrels, The Rotary Club of West Richmond, and UMFS are teaming up for the annual 5K run/walk. “When we are able to partner with groups like The Rotary Club of West Richmond it’s really special because it’s a direct impact on the kids in this community,” Moore says. “It’s additionally exciting because our kids can participate in the event.”
UMFS is an unwavering champion for high-risk children and families. Last year the organization served 3,300 children directly. Its efforts are focused on kids that need some sort of extra support.
“We help youth in treatment foster care. We also have a special education school on campus for youth and we provide mental health services that include programs for families,” Moore says, adding the organization also serves seniors by way of its low-income senior living facility called Guardian Place.
Proceeds from the run will go to support the organization’s career and technical education programs at Charterhouse School and will help boost special birthday and Christmas funds for kids in foster care.
“We have urgent needs in both of those programs,” Moore says.
The organization’s career and technical education program includes courses focused on culinary arts, cosmetology, media arts, and horticulture. Funds from the run will “specifically help the culinary arts program,” Moore says.
Currently there are 130 students in that program. Monies received will help buy new kitchen equipment and also help students in the program that are working toward certification.
Students in the culinary arts program will host a coffee cart on the day of the event. “They will be serving coffee during registration,” Moore says. “People will get the chance to see exactly whom the organization is supporting.”
Funds from the race will also help bring a smile to kids on their birthday and at Christmas. “Some of our kids have never had a birthday party or Christmas in their lives,” Moore says. “The money will go to purchase gift cards from Target and Walmart that our foster parents will use to buy gifts for the kids.”
The public can also sponsor a child for a $25 gift card. The organization additionally has a wish list program for kids in the residential treatment program. “Those kids are living on campus and they need extra support because they are really in crisis,” Moore says, noting people interested in the wish list can contact her at kmoore@umfs.org.
Proceeds from the Funn Run will also benefit Flying Squirrels Charities. The non-profit organization is dedicated to reviving youth baseball fields and the game of baseball in Richmond. Its efforts focus on “Renovating Richmond’s Recreation,” a community project designed to renovate fourteen Richmond City youth baseball facilities.
“We work with the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to identify the fields,” says Hannah DeFrank who oversees special events as well as Flying Squirrels Charities for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. “We also work closely with contracting firm Barton Malow and Henrico County Vocational Technical Education Foundation.”
Flying Squirrels Charity has already renovated multiple youth fields by building new dugouts and rebuilding pitchers mounds and infields. Those fields include Hotchkiss Fields on E. Brookland Park Blvd. and Bellemeade Field on Lynhaven Ave.
“We renovated those fields with funds we received from the Funn Run,” DeFrank says.
Check out the Funn Run!
The Funn Run will be held in Scott’s Addition on Saturday, November 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and to register, go here.
The Funn Run & Block Party will be held in the parking lot at the intersection of Mactavish, Norfolk, and W. Moore Street. Tickets are $30 (21+) which includes race entry, T-shirt, a drink ticket (beer or water), and entry into the block party; $20 (ages 3-20) which includes race entry, a T-shirt, a drink ticket (water), and entry into the block party; $10 (block party only) which includes a drink ticket (beer 21+ or water). The block party will feature 80s hair metal band Teaze from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., food trucks, games, vendors, kids’ activities, and more.
