Shirley's 5K Run and 1 Mile Dog Walk Raises Over $1200 for Local Animal Welfare Organizations

The Maple Glen Community Association’s Shirley’s Run and Dog Walk took place in Maple Glen on Sunday morning, August 17. The events were in honor of Shirley Schriftman, a long time resident of the neighborhood, an animal lover and an active member of the community.

Over $1200 was raised for the Shirley Schriftman Fund for Animals. Animal rescue organizations attended an expo that took place during the event in the Maple Manor Swim Club parking lot and pets were available for adoption.

The 2014 race winners were:

· David Weiss - Men’s Open with a time of 18:33.

· Cody Tranchitellah - Women’s Open with a time of 19:35.

· Kent Madden of Maple Glen, PA - Men’s Masters with a time of 20:59.

· Annabelle Broadbent - Women’s Masters with a time of 20:54.

The proceeds of Shirley’s run are donated to the Shirley Schriftman Fund for Animals, a donor advised fund of the Montgomery County Foundation. The fund makes grants to animal rescue and service animal training organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Actress Patsy Meck was present during the event to meet and greet participants in celebration of the upcoming film version of the book My Million Dollar Mom by Ross Schriftman, Shirley’s son and director of Shirley’s Run. Meck, who had roles in Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, will be playing Shirley’s best friend Gladys in the film.

Mrs. Schriftman served for many years as a Democratic Committeewoman in Maple Glen and ran for District Justice for Ambler and Upper Dublin in 1975. She also taught English as a Second Language at Upper Dublin Adult School and in her home. She worked for many years at Univac Corporation in Blue Bell and helped organize the Bucks/Mont Chapter of Parents without Partners. She also enjoyed going to running races and watching her son Ross compete. Mrs. Schriftman died from Alzheimer’s disease in October of 2009. She remained in her home until the end of her life.

For more information about Shirley’s Run & Dog Walk visit www.shirleysrun.org or call Ross Schriftman at 215-682-7075

About Shirley’s Run:
The Shirley’s Run 5K is an out and back course on gradual rolling hills and flats traveling on neighborhood roads in Maple Glen. Starting at the Maple Manor Swim Club on Dillon Road and going out to Howe Lane at Welsh Road and returning, it is a great course for top runners to have a challenging but fast opportunity to achieve a personal best as well as for first timers to experience a 5K run.

Shirley Schriftman was born in Springfield, MA in 1925. From an early age she had a great love of animals. Her favorite childhood book was Mr. Jolly’s Hotel for Dogs. She decided that when she grew up she would rescue animals. During her long life she had many dogs and several cats that were her companions.

During her 84 year life, Mrs. Schriftman had many achievements. She grew up in Brookline, MA. During World War II she was a Spanish translator for the State Department. She was a USO Hostess and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. She married Herbert Schriftman of Brooklyn, NY and they raised four sons; Roy, Ross, Lee and Barry whom she was very proud of. She also was a grandmother six times and a great grandmother six times.

During her working career she was Assistant to the Dean of College Affairs at Temple University, a foreign language aide at the North Campus of Abington High School and a documentation specialist for Univac Corporation. Her interest in language led her to teach Adult Education courses at Upper Dublin High School and English as a Second Language to immigrants to the United States. She was also active in International Training in Communications at Univac.

She became active in Parents Without Partners and organized the Bucks/Mont Chapter. She was active in her Synagogue and chaired efforts to get the release of Jews from the Soviet Union and helped them settle in the Philadelphia area.

Mrs. Schriftman loved dancing, singing, flowers, children, her family and her animals. After the Katrina Hurricane, she adopted an abandoned dog and blind cat. She was a movie buff with a large collection which she spent cataloging in her later years.

Shirley Schriftman was also a big supporter of running attending many races that her sons Ross and Lee participated in over the years.