Run, Mom! Run! Hundreds Turn Out For Mother's Day 5K

 More than 550 runners and walkers participated in the Newport Public Education Foundation (NPEF) Mother’s Day 5K at Rogers High School this Sunday.

The NPEF was established in 1991 as a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance educational opportunities and build community support for the Newport public education system.  Every year the organization provides grants to programs that would not be otherwise funded under the standard school budget.

“We are independent of the school system and not politically affiliated,” Misi Narcizo, a NPEF board of trustees member, said. Narcizo said the autonomy allows the foundation to supplement the existing school budget based on innovative ideas that come directly from teachers.

According the foundation's website, more than $20,000, divided into 25 grants, was awarded in the 2009-2010 school year.  Grants fund programs such as All Ears Listening Center, After School Honors Performance Program - Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Chorus, and Publishing on the Go.

“I went to Newport public schools and it is important to me that my children attend Newport public schools," Missi Monahan, also an NPEF member, said.  Monahan said the hope is that the seed money provided by the foundation will encourage teachers to develop creative solutions to improve learning, which will be integrated into the public education budget in the future.  

The race began and finished at.  The implemented a traffic management plan that avoided the need for road closures and minimized disturbance to the neighborhood.  

The high school cafeteria was transformed a festive fair-like environment, where families congregated before and after the race to celebrate Mother’s Day and the race.  Face painters transformed children into Superman, volunteers measured parent’s BMI and cholesterol levels, children created Mother's Day cards and the moms were handed flowers. 

Dawn Lonergan enjoyed a proud moment as she watched her son, Eric Lonergan of North Kingstown, cross the finish line in first place. He finished in 16 minutes flat, beating the second place runner by 2:21.

Molly McCarthy, of Boston, won the women's overall, with a time of 20:34.  When asked what she planned to do with the $150 prize money, her father, Kevin McCarthy of Portsmouth, winked at his daughter and answered that she will put it in the bank to save for her upcoming wedding. The McCarthy's kept winning in the family, as McCarthy senior won first place in his age group (60-98), with a time of 21:29 minutes.

Couldn’t make it to the finish line?  A full length video of the race and the awards ceremony is available on TheNewportRecord.com

Full race results can be found http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/ri/May8_NPEFMo_set1.shtml

Overall Winners

Male Winners by Age Group

Female Winners by Age Group