Oak Park Runners Club Announces $20,000 Gift to their Charitable Race Partners

News Advisory 8/9/2019
Contact:   Keith Strom, Oak Park Runners Club, GLR Race Director
racedirector@goodliferace.com or (312) 404-4845

John C Borrero, Collaboration for Early Childhood, Executive Director
jborrero@collab4kids.org or 708-613-6122

Michele Zurakowski, Beyond Hunger, Executive Director, michele@gobeyondhunger.org
or 708-434-0085

The Oak Park Runners Club (OPRC) has announced a $20,000 gift of race proceeds from the Good Life Race in support of both the Collaboration for Early Childhood and Beyond Hunger (formerly the OakPark River Forest Food Pantry.  “We want to thank our race partners and participants, as well as our dedicated volunteers whose combined efforts assist the Good Life Race to support the tremendous works of both of these local charitable race partners.” said Keith Strom, Race Director.

For 38 consecutive years, the Oak Park Runners Club has hosted the Good Life Race, one of the most prestigious 5K race events in the Chicago area.  The Good Life Race is a family friendly, zero-waste event that draws runners and walkers of all ages from the Oak Park – River Forest area and beyond.  More information is available at http://goodliferace.com or http://oprc.net/.

The OPRC is allocating $12,500.00 to the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Our two organizations have worked together since 2012 to improve the Junior Dash for the five and under crowd as part of a family event aimed at emphasizing the joy in running. “The Collaboration for Early Childhood is proud of the work that we do to support families in our community.   We would not be able to accomplish this without committed partnerships and the support of organizations like the Oak Park Runners Club, who continues to be a champion for young children.   On behalf of the many kids who will benefit from this generous gift, we offer much thanks to the volunteers and participants who helped make this event a success,” said John Borrero, Executive Director.   “This donation will go to work right away, in support of preschool hearing and vision screening; to support consultation around social and emotional development in schools and to strengthen our health resources for young children and families.” The Collaboration for Early Childhood is a public/private partnership that leverages the resources of more than 60 agencies to create a community-wide system of high-quality programs and services that foster physical, cognitive and social-emotional development during the first five years of life.  For more information visit their website at http://collab4kids.org/.

The OPRC is apportioning $7,500.00 to Beyond Hunger (formerly the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry in support of their ongoing mission to work together as a community to reduce hunger. “We are thrilled that the Oak Park Runners Club is supporting their neighbors in need with such a substantial gift,” said Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director.  “A HUGE thank you to all the runners and walkers whose
generosity will allow us to provide enough groceries for 20,000 meals!”

Beyond Hunger provides hunger relief, benefits counseling, and nutritional counseling to eligible families living in 13 zip codes in Cook County. For more information, visit their website at http://GoBeyondHunger.org/.