Over 2,000 Already Registered for Sunday’s IRIS Run for Refugees!

New Haven, CT – IRIS Run for Refugees – Connecticut’s most international and family friendly road race – is excited to welcome two dynamic supporters - Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and United States Senator Richard Blumenthal - as pre-race speakers at the upcoming road race. The event takes place Sunday, February 4, in picturesque East Rock Park at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. With 2,000 participants already registered, the race expects to sell out again this year with a limit of 3,000 entrants!

The popular 5K Run for Refugees, beginning at 10 a.m., has become a healthy, worldly tradition for elite runners to entire families seeking to kick off Super Bowl Sunday in a unique way, “Think Global – Run Local!” The event benefits IRIS - Integrated Immigrant & Refugee Services - in helping refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, regain hope and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. Last year, the event received overwhelming community support, surpassing the previous record crowd by more than 1,000 participants.

After running or walking the race WITH refugees and their families from around the world, participants enjoy a festive, community oriented post-race party featuring international food, live music, and an awards ceremony. New Haven area restaurants donate delicious cuisine and refugee chefs showcase culinary selections from their home countries. Prizes will be given to the first three finishers in each age division, as well as for the top fundraisers. The new, flatter course will comfortably accommodate more walkers and runners.

The annual IRIS Run for Refugees is IRIS’s only large fundraiser, garnering much needed financial donations to fulfill its mission. Through the generous support of donors, IRIS meets refugees’ housing, food and other basic needs; provides cultural orientation, education, health & wellness, and immigration legal services; and offers onsite English language training and job preparation and placement. Participants are encouraged to fundraise for IRIS, and can receive a complimentary entry by raising $200 or more. Please email jody@jbsports.com for further information about fundraising.

IRIS Run for Refugees is supported by its Presenting Sponsor Africa Plan Foundation and its Olympian Sponsors Action Together Connecticut, Griswold Home Care and Time Equities Inc. The Run for Refugees Media Sponsor is WSHU. Advocate Sponsors include Blue State Coffee, Archie Moore’s, Elm Campus Partners, Episcopal Church of Connecticut, Farnam Realty Group, Koffee Katering, Purkiss Capital Advisors, Quinnipiac University, Shutesbury Coffee Cake Club, Rotary Club of Guilford, Kebabian’s, Edible Arrangements, Donnelley Financial Solutions, mActivity, Radiall USA, Inc., Beers, Hamerman, Cohen & Burger, PC, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Additional supporting sponsors include CT Health Foundation, Crest Lincoln Jaguar, Honest Tea, Sap!, Chabaso Bakery, World Affairs Council of CT.

The Run for Refugees is organized by JB Sports, coordinator of the New Haven Road Race and Christopher Martin’s Christmas Run. For more information on the event, call IRIS at (203) 562-2095 or JB Sports at 203-481-5933 or visit www.jbsports.com. For more information about IRIS, visit www.irisct.org