2019 Summit Junior Fortnightly Club Tot Trot

In 1978, the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club (SJFC) was looking for a new event to benefit local children’s charities. The Summit-based women’s club, formed in 1932 and dedicated to volunteerism and community service, subsequently organized a “Tot Trot,” a mini-carnival followed by a fun run for kids ages 2-8, held at Memorial Field.

To be successful, the event also needed the support of local businesses as sponsors, so the SJFC approached Lois Schneider, the philanthropic-minded owner of the prominent real estate business that bears her name to this day. Lois Schneider Realtorbecame the lead sponsor that first year, continuing in that role each year since despite Lois Schneider’s passing in 2012, at which time her daughter, Karen, assumed leadership of the agency.

Now a Summit tradition, this year marks the 41st anniversary of the Annual Tot Trot, an event with the fitting motto of “Kids Running for Kids.” Each year, the SJFC selects a local children’s charity as the beneficiary of funds raised from the Tot Trot’s proceeds. Previous beneficiaries have included TryCan of Summit, the Valerie Fund, Atlantic Health System’s Eating Disorders Center at Overlook Hospital, Good Grief, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Bryan’s Dream, just to name a few.

The 2019 Tot Trot will benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County. Founded in 2005, CASA’s mission is to recruit, screen, train and supervise community volunteers to act as advocates for children who have been removed from their home due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Last year, CASA of Union County served more youth than ever – 286 of the 500 Union County youth is foster care. It is CASA’s goal to provide a dedicated advocate to every Union County foster child that needs one.

The Tot Trot is run entirely by volunteers, over half of whom are young people between the ages of 8 and 20. Patricia Thoms has fond memories of watching her little girl, Kara, run in the races while she volunteered at the event as a SJFC member. Kara, now a sales associate at Lois Schneider Realtor and today a SJFC member, now volunteers with her son, Bauer, who also ran the races until he turned ten. Patricia notes, “Both Kara and I appreciate working for a good cause and to support a local tradition. And it’s great for Bauer to volunteer and experience the good feeling you get when you help others less fortunate – especially kids.”

Event organizers agree it is the children who make the event so much fun. Says, Sandy Chambers and Beverly Brown, this year’s Co-Chairs, “When you look back at the photos taken over the years, the one thing that really stands out is the joy and excitement on the children’s faces. They are truly precious moments to watch, and it is wonderful to see our community come together to support such a wonderful cause.”

This year’s event will be held on June 2nd, at Memorial Field, with carnival activities that include inflatables, trackless train, petting zoo, crafts and game, from 11 am -1:30 pm, followed by races for kids ages 2-10 from 1-2pm.

Runner’s registrations can be purchased in advance at sjfclub.org for $17 in advance, and for $20 at the door. All pre-registered runners receive a ‘goody bag’ that includes a T-shirt, water and other items; all runners receive a medal commemorating their participation after the race.
Community-minded individuals and kids above the age of eight can volunteer to help out at the event by contacting sjfcmail@gmail.com