RRCA Announces Kids Run the Nation Grant Recipients

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Kids Run the Nation grant recipients. Twenty-five programs throughout the U.S. serving over 4,500 children will receive a total of $20,250 in grants from the RRCA. In addition, the RRCA will donate copies over 10,000 copies of the Kids Run the Nation: A Running Guide for Kids booklet to be given to program participants in thirty-four different programs, an in-kind donation to these programs valued at over $10,000.

Congratulations to the following grantees: Mississippi Delta Runners (Sledge, MS), Kids Run/Walk Arkansas (Conway, AR), Grand Strand Running Club (Myrtle Beach, SC), Keowee Kids Running Club (Seneca, SC), YMCA Club South Youth Runners Program (Baton Rouge, LA), Eagle Ridge Elementary PTA Running Club (Fort Worth, TX), YMCA Camp/Gadsden Runners Club Youth Division (Gadsden, AL). Somerville Road Runners Kids (West Somerville, MA), Patterson Park Public Charter School Running Club (Baltimore, MD), Gator Trek Club (Pine Hill, NJ) Longridge Running Club (Greece, NY), Navigator's Running Club (Providence, RI), Kids Run the Nation – Saginaw (Saginaw, MI), Nielson Navigators Run For Fun (Galesburg, IL), Ontarioville Owls (Hanover Park, IL), Esperanza Eagles (Greenwood, IN), Cavanaugh Kids Run the Nation (Lansing, MI), YMCA in Woodbury Kids Run the Nation (Woodbury, MN), Pomaika’I Running Club (Kaului, HI), Jemez Valley Cross Country/100 Mile Club (Jemez Pueblo, NM), Hiawatha Elementary Run Club (Othello, WA),  Birney Running Club (San Diego, CA), Clover Quick Feet (Los Angeles, CA) Jackie Kids Run the Nation (San Diego, CA) Torres Running Club (Los Angeles, CA). Detailed descriptions of each program can be found at www.RRCA.org/services/news/.

Since 2007, the RRCA has provided over $90,000 in small grants to deserving youth running programs around the country through the Kids Run the Nation Fund. The Kids Run the Nation Fund is designed to provide needed resources to launch and support youth running programs as an opportunity to address the on-going inactivity and obesity crisis facing today’s youth.

 “The need to financially support youth running continues to grow as more evidence-based research shows that organized running programs for youth is a key component in combating childhood obesity,” explained Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director. “We received over 230 applications for programs that are getting over 75,000 children running regularly, and they are all deserving of financial support.”

The Kids Run the Nation program is a gender inclusive, multi-week, turnkey, youth running program designed to meet the physical activity goals outline by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. A midcourse report issued by the USDA, “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,” outlines clear evidence that bringing physical activity into schools positively impacts youth. Through this program, the RRCA’s vision is to help establish locally managed youth running programs in every grade school in America.

Founded in 1958, The Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise. . Learn more at www.RRCA.org