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Health & Fitness

Why Outrun Homelessness?

Outrunning Homelessness is an annual 5K race and 2.6 mile fun walk held in April at DCR's Borderland State Park.  This event, sponsored by Crescent Credit Union, is a fundraiser for School on Wheels of Massachusetts, empowering children impacted by homelessness to reach their full potential through educational support and one-one-one mentoring.

The race was founded in 2011 by Race Director and Suffolk University undergraduate student Dennis Harkins, and the Oliver Ames School on Wheels Club. Outrunning Homelessness 2014 will be held on Saturday, April 26.

We asked Dennis to share his thoughts about his journey with School on Wheels of Massachusetts and Outrunning Homelessness: 

“It has been both a very rewarding and humbling experience co-directing the “Outrunning Homelessness” Race/Walk Committee for School on Wheels over the last 4 years. I have watched  the event grow from 175 to 540 participants.  We expect an even larger event this year.  There is so much excitement for both the event directors, volunteers, & community of supporters for School on Wheels. I can’t explain how rewarding it is to know that so many children will receive the educational support they need to be successful through the work that I and so many other people have put forth. The experience has helped me realize how fortunate I am and how much I can do to pay it forward. ”

Sue Bonanno is a member of the School on Wheels of Massachusetts board of directors.  This is what Sue had to say about her involvement in this organization:

"School on Wheels of Massachusetts  is one of the top nonprofits that I am involved with as it directly aligns with some of my most important criteria for volunteering my time and monetary contributions — that is to say that first and foremost, you serve our community’s children, the most hopeful and most innocent victims of the homelessness crisis. You maximize the dollars going straight into programs while maintaining the highest levels of quality in the programs.

The School on Wheels ‘service’ approach truly works in changing the lives of homeless children through education. You have demonstrated specific results for real children with very specific needs. You are constantly seeking continuous improvement in results, the skills of both your staff and yourself and the quality of donor relationships so that School on Wheels can continue to serve the children who need us most. So I look forward to a bright future in whatever capacity I can be the most helpful to the SOWMA mission."

We are looking forward to another great Outrunning Homelessness event this April  For more information on this event or on the programs that School on Wheels of Massachusetts provides to children who have had their lives impacted by homelessness, please visit our website: www.sowma.org
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