Strides For Peace Sets Its Sights On Grant Park For Fourth Annual Run/Walk Against Gun Violence
CHICAGO (April 18, 2017) – Continuing its work alongside Chicago’s leaders in the fight against gun violence, Strides For Peace has committed to increasing the impact of it’s annual run/walk in 2017 with a new venue and a new date. The Fourth Annual 8/5K Run, Two Mile Walk, and Tots For Peace Sprint will be held on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Upper Hutchinson Field in Grant Park.
After holding the event in October on the grounds of Soldier Field for its first three years of existence, Strides For Peace will transition the charity’s marquee event to Grant Park, famed for hosting such events as the Bank of American Chicago Marathon, Lollapolooza, Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, and numerous other runs and athletic events. The new date of the race also carries significant meaning as it falls on the eve of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
A registered 501(c)3, Strides for Peace’s mission is to raise and deploy capital to a variety of local agencies, programs, and organizations that strive for the common goal of reducing gun violence in the City of Chicago. Marawa Eltagoui of the Chicago Tribune reported that since the beginning of April, “There had been 142 homicides in the city, according to Chicago police statistics. At least 755 people had been shot this year as of last week, according to data collected by the Tribune. Those totals are down slightly from 2016, when more than 4,300 people were shot and more than 760 were killed. It was the most violent year in nearly two decades.” Click HERE for full story.
In 2016, more than 500 people participated in Chicago’s largest annual anti-gun violence athletic event.
The charitable event is a platform to help raise funds for other non-profit organizations, large or small, that have dedicated anti-gun violence programs. “This event is about lifting up existing anti-gun violence programs across the City, those who have seen major cuts in private or governmental funding, but are on the front lines of gun violence in Chicago and are working to change and save lives,” said Strides for Peace Founder, Maggie Baczkowski.
Runners and walkers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the event as individuals or in teams. Any locally registered 501(c)3 anti-gun violence nonprofits are welcome to set up teams with every dollar directed toward their team distributed back to that organization post-race, including the $35 entry fee of all its members.
Following the event, Strides for Peace distributes 100% of the race entry fees and donations back to the non-profit that a Race Team has chosen to support. All undirected funds raised support Strides for Peace’s official Community Partners.
Community partners that benefit from this race and other Strides for Peace events include the Chicago Children’s Choir, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, BUILD Inc., Cure Violence, Faith Community of Saint Sabina, Gary Comer Youth Center, Growing Power, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Kids Off The Block, Noah’s Arc Foundation, West Town Bikes, Youth Guidance, and Paving the Way.
To register for the race or for more details, go to https://www.stridesforpeace.org/race
Contact:
Kristina Olkowski-Sayas
Race Director
O: 312.925.8600
E: [email protected]