Hillsborough’s Resolution Run Donates $11K To Project Graduation And Others

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Resolution Run 5K Committee announced the distribution of checks totaling $11,700 to the beneficiaries of the January 1, 2017 charity event. The 3.1 mile race has been held each New Year’s Day since 2002 and is organized by the Resolutions for Others Foundation, a Hillsborough based non-profit group.

Proceeds benefit Project Graduation 2017, which is an all-night, alcohol- and drug-free celebration held the night of graduation, free to graduating seniors. It is planned, financed and carried out by parents and volunteers to help ensure the safety of Hillsborough's graduating class. A portion of the proceeds also benefit three pet rescue organizations, Carol’s Cats, Companion Animal Placement and Greyhounds of NJ.

This year’s race was held under sunny skies with the race time temperature at 46 degrees, according to Race Director Gary Verhoorn. On New Year’s Day, precisely at 11 am, hundreds of runners and walkers took to the streets of Hillsborough from the Peter J Biondi Municipal Building.

The fastest male runner was Brian Crowley of Hillsborough, while the fastest female runner was Amy Williams of Hillsborough. Crowley finished the 3.1 mile course in a time of 17 minutes, 11 seconds, beating his time from last year by about 10 seconds. Williams ran in 19:04, finishing ahead of the next female by just over a minute. Crowley, a “regular” at the Resolution Run, won for the third consecutive year. He has won the race in four of the last five years.

In the Masters category (runners 40 years of age and older), winners this year were Brian Bumgarner of Branchburg in 18:27 and Keira Forker of Hillsborough in 22:00.

Volunteers and business sponsors are essential in supporting the race.

The Director of Volunteers, Kevin Katmann, noted, “Some of our volunteers have been with us all 16 years of the race, while others helped us for the first time.”

Kevin thanked the Somerset Runners Club, student and adult volunteers from Project Graduation 2017 and others who heard about the race from its website, www.resolutionrun.org or on its Facebook page.

Stella Nieves, who drove the lead vehicle and, together with her husband, Victor Nieves, helped award the prizes, noted there were a total of 110 awards, including medals, gift certificates and merchandise.

Hillsborough Massage Therapy and Village Shoe Store of Montgomery gave awards to the top winners while first, second and third place runners in 16 age groups from under 9 years old to 80 years old and over won custom designed medals.

Awards were also given to the Oldest, the Youngest and those who traveled furthest (Great Britain). Runners came from 11 states. There were 173 runners from Hillsborough. Runners were asked to supply an optional resolution. All resolutions are listed on their website for the entire year.

“The resolutions can be a continuing source of both enjoyment and amusement,” Verhoorn noted.

The Race Committee thanked all 600 runners and walkers who registered for the event.

“Without them, this community event never would have taken place!” noted Caroline Katmann, who ran the Expo, where previous years’ hoodies were available for a donation, Verhoorn thanked the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the Hillsborough Rescue Squad, the Township Administration, the Municipal Committee, the Board of Education and the Township Youth Services Committee and its Project Graduation Committee.

In addition to fees from runners, Business Sponsors ensure the success of the Resolution Run, and are shown below.

The 2017 Presenting Sponsor was Hillsborough Massage Therapy LLC.

There were four 2017 Platinum Sponsors, Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center of Hillsborough, Harlingen Veterinary Clinic of Belle Mead, Schilke Construction Company of Hillsborough and TayganPoint Consulting Group, based in Washington Crossing, PA.

Gold Sponsors for 2017 consisted of Allen Lopez-Absolute Home Mortgage Corp, Advanced Eyecare & Vision Gallery-Dr Barbara J Tarbell, Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Bridgeway Senior Healthcare/Avalon Assisted Living, Hillsborough Podiatry Group, HRC Fitness, Just Subs, Petrock’s Bar & Grille, Premiere College Funding, Princeton Orthopaedic Associates, Shop Rite of Hillsborough, 10x10 Home Body Fitness, V5 Cycles, Van Cleef Engineering Associates, Village Shoes and Wegman’s of Bridgewater.

The 2017 Bank Honor Role Sponsors were Affinity Federal Credit Union and Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

2017 Patrons included Central Jersey Nurseries, Century 21 Worden & Green, Dubitsky Dental, Gregory D Hirsch, MD, Family Chiropractic Center, JML Landscaping, Kathleen Academy of Dance, William J Kohlhepp, Jr, Esq, StrengthCondition.com, TMB Triathlon Club and the Women’s Club of Hillsborough.

Information about the race is updated at their website, www.resolutionrun.org or on its Facebook page.

— By Gary Verhoorn

(Images provided)

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