Manchester Road Race Makes 6-Figure Donation To Fight Hunger Statewide

MANCHESTER, CT — Manchester Road Race officials were not exaggerating when they said a subplot of the 2025 edition of the event was a "race against hunger."

The Manchester Road Race Committee announced over the weekend today that it is contributing $100,000 to Connecticut Foodshare of Wallingford and $38,000 to MACC Charities of Manchester from the unallocated proceeds of the 89th Thanksgiving Day run.

MACC Charities had already received a check for $12,000 from the race's 2025 Honor Club Program, bringing its total bequest to $50,000.

According to committee president Dr. Tris Carta it is the largest single-year total charitable donation ever made by the organization.

"This is only possible due to the fantastic support and generosity of our wonderful runners, financial sponsors, volunteers and media partners," Carta said. "Our committee announced prior to last year's road race that food insecurity would be the primary charitable focus, and we are so grateful that we can make these contributions."

A total of 12,382 registered runners and walkers signed up last year for the 4.737-mile run through central Manchester, which is regarded as one of America's largest and most celebrated Thanksgiving Day road races. The Principal Sponsors of the 2025 road race were Pratt & Whitney, Hoffman Lexus, Orthopedic Associates of Hartford and Hartford HealthCare.

Carta added that the committee has already begun planning for the 2026 event, which will celebrate its 90th running on Thursday, November 26th. The road race will welcome Hartford HealthCare as its Presenting Sponsor this year and will be known going forward as the
Manchester Road Race Presented by Hartford HealthCare."

Registration for the road race will open online on Sept. 1. More details will be available soon at manchesterroadrace.com.