Over 1,000 Event Participants Attended US Day 2017 Celebration in Stamford

STAMFORD, CT – October 5, 2017 – The 5th Annual MarcUS for Change 5K Walk & Run kicked off US Day 2017 on Sunday, October 1, 2017, in Stamford’s downtown Mill River Park. The community event, which was a collaboration of two 501(c)3 foundations, the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) and MarcUS for Change, attracted more than 600 runners and walkers, who were celebrated by cheerleaders from various schools as they crossed the finish line. More than 50 volunteers, including 27 members of the Stamford High Football team, helped make the day special for more than 1,000 event attendees.

Stillmeadow Elementary School won the MarcUS for Change Spirit Award along with a check for $500 for their school’s PTO for having the most affiliated 5K participants.

“Hundreds of children were exposed to fun at US Day 2017. While the word "fun" gets thrown around, it's easy to forget that many children are often not exposed to as much stimulation and entertainment as was present today. The smiles on the faces of the Stamford youth that participated in US Day’s activities are motivation to keep SPEF moving forward to enrich the lives of Stamford’s students and their families,” said Matthew Quinones, SPEF’s Chief Executive Officer.

US Day 2017 featured activities and entertainment focused on helping Stamford youth achieve healthy personal, academic, social, and career-ready skills for success. Festivities included the MarcUS for Change 5K Walk & Run, a multicultural parade led by Mayor David Martin, international dance performances coordinated by the Mayor’s Multicultural Council, performances by Pop Music Academy, and various Kid Zone activities sponsored by Kids Helping Kids.

Special appearances included US Day 2017’s Master of Ceremonies Jenna Hanchard, an Emmy-nominated reporter from KING 5 Seattle, and a heart-felt performance of the National Anthem by Angelica Salem, a Stamford native. After participating in the 5K (finishing in 12th place) Superintendent Earl Kim joined SPEF CEO Matthew Quinones in presenting the 5K Awards, including the first place male and female awards to Billy Bennett (18:28) and Lawrence Fox (20:04), respectively.

US Day 2017 also featured the participation of more than 30 community groups, including Boys and Girls Club of Stamford; Caring with Grace; Chelsea Piers Connecticut; Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut; Childcare Learning Centers; Family Centers; Family Dentistry of Stamford; Farmers Insurance; Ferguson Library; Girl Scouts; Happy Code Club; Inspirica; Intake Music; Kids Draw Free; Kids Helping Kids; Kids in Crisis; Latin Colors; Liberation Programs; Mayor’s Multicultural Council; Mill River Park Collaborative; Odyssey of the Mind; PLTI; Pop Music Academy; Project Music; SPEF; St. Joseph’s Parenting Center; Stamford Family YMCA; Stamford Museum and Nature Center; Stamford Youth Tennis Academy; Upper Deck Fitness; and Women’s Mentoring Network.

Top-Tier Sponsors for the 5th Annual MarcUS for Change 5K included: MarcUS for Change, Canida Family, AXA Investment Managers, First County Bank, Phillips Family Foundation, Berkowitz and Hanna, DiRusso Brooks Law Group, Nagi Jewlers, Harbor Point, Selkowitz Family Foundation, VCA Davis Animal Hospital, Fred and Eileen Springer, Thomas and Patti Gawlak, Downtown Special Services District, Dental Care Kids, Enochs Family, Michael and Laurel Schnitman, Mackey & Guasco Staffing, and Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy. All proceeds support SPEF’s nationally recognized mentoring initiatives and other MarcUS for Change collaborative partnerships in support of at-risk youth.

About SPEF: Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is to support the students and teachers in Stamford Public School through community collaboration and philanthropy. At the elementary level, the Foundation supports literacy initiatives and provides Service-Learning Mentoring to enrich traditional classroom learning. At the middle and high school levels, its focus is on college and career readiness. For further information, visit www.spefct.org.