RRR Donates $22,700 to Rockland Charities
3 races benefit United Hospice, Meals on Wheels, Rockland Family Shelter
By Jamie Kempton
The Rockland Road Runners presented checks for $22,700 to three Rockland County charities during the club’s general meeting Sept. 4 at the Nanuet Restaurant.
The proceeds were generated from three of the club’s races: the George Wodicka Hook Mountain Half Marathon and Hope 5K in April, benefiting United Hospice of Rockland; the Bill Fortune Memorial 10K/5K in May, for Meals on Wheels Programs & Services; and the Women’s Distance Festival 5K in July, for Rockland Family Shelter. All were held at Rockland Lake.
Hook Mountain race director Steve Borton presented a check for $14,000 to Amy Stern, executive director of United Hospice of Rockland. Stern, who also serves as race director of the Bill Fortune event, gave a check for $2,700 to Meals on Wheels representatives Stephen Kelly, chief financial officer, and Ilsa Svoboda, coordinator of social work. Women’s Distance Festival race director Larry Wolf handed a check for $6,000 to Rockland Family Shelter board member Billie Cronin and special events coordinator Kathy Bookman.
The three races attracted 1,553 registered entrants – 779 for the Hook Mountain race, 314 for the Bill Fortune event and 460 for the women’s race.
Last year the Rockland Road Runners donated $80,271 to local charities and drew more than 5,700 participants to its five annual races.
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