RAND staff and friends and family ran/walked nearly 5,000 miles between April 1 - April 30 for our first ever virtual run benefitting several charities.
Since 2006, our RAND on the Run team has participated in a 5K charity run each year (including the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge and NYCRuns’ Building Brooklyn 5K). While the pandemic cancelled our annual run for the first time in 2020, it didn't stop us from creating our own virtual run/walk this year: the RAND Strong Virtual Run.
For the entire month of April, from the 1st to the 30th, RAND staff and their friends and family were invited to participate in our first ever virtual run. Participants ran/walked when and where they wanted throughout the month and tracked their steps using fitness tracking devices. Prizes were awarded to those who reached 150,000 and 300,000 steps by the end of the month.
In addition, each step taken earned money ($1 per mile) via our RAND Gives Back initiative for four charities: three benefiting groups who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic - Mothers and Babies Fund, Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, and The Actors Fund - and Forest Park Trust, in honor of our dear friend, team leader, colleague, and mentor, Ivan Mrakovcic, who left us too soon last February. Ivan was an active volunteer at Forest Park, where his family still volunteers, and was also a board member of the Forest Park Trust.
After tallying all the steps submitted, our 52 participants walked 11,248,979 steps, equaling 4,999.55 total miles (that’s the equivalent of walking from New York City to Istanbul, as the crow flies). Our top stepper, RAND’s Facade & Roofing Admin Team Manager, Kristel Limbo, walked/ran an impressive 506,415 steps (225 miles!).
Together, our participants earned $5,000 for the four charities, and we are pleased to announce that RAND has decided to donate an additional $250 to each charity, bringing our total donation to $6,000.
Congratulations to all who participated. We had such a great turnout, we look forward to doing it again. Until then, keep running strong, RAND Strong!
More on the charities our virtual run benefitted:
Mothers and Babies Fund (Fund for Public Health NYC)
The Fund for Public Health created the Mothers and Babies Fund and set up Baby Cafés to help support mothers and their babies in the NYC area, and ensure they receive comprehensive care during pregnancy and through postpartum. Evidence shows that in NYC, Black women are eight times more likely than white women to die of pregnancy complications, are discriminated against when seeking healthcare, and receive less support and health information. FPHNY provides resources and advocates for mothers, with a focus on women of color who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic. FPHNYC partners with philanthropists and experts at the NYC Health Department to save lives and improve health outcomes for families across the city. https://fphnyc.org/work/healthy-mothers-babies/
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation
The restaurant industry is notorious for low wages (40% live on poverty-level wages), poor job mobility, high turnover, and burnout. These issues have only been exacerbated by COVID. Structural and cultural issues within the industry decrease quality of life and make long term work in the industry unsustainable for many. To help counter this, RWCF focuses on: wage fairness and career ladders, gender equity and sexual violence, social justice and support for the immigrant community, and mental health and substance abuse. https://www.restaurantworkerscf.org/
The Actors Fund
The performing arts industry, and the theater community in particular, has been devastated by the COVID pandemic. To help all those in need, The Actors Fund, which has been supporting actors since 1882, has been distributing emergency financial assistance to help cover basic living expenses, such as food, essential medications, utilities, and more. The group also provides support for affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, senior care, and secondary career development, among services. https://actorsfund.org/help-our-entertainment-communiity-covid-19-emergency-relief
Forest Park Trust
Forest Park Trust supports the maintenance and improvement of parks in Queens. They also provide free entertainment, athletic programs, festivals, volunteer projects, educational workshops, as well as seasonal activities for the surrounding communities. Giving back by creating opportunities for individuals to come together is one of their main focuses. http://forestparktrust.org/
Jennifer Wu is RAND's Marketing Manager, a member of the RAND Gives Back Committee, and a RAND Strong Virtual Run participant.
