Proceeds Support Mental Health and Behavioral Health
The annual Reliant Foundation 5K presented by Amazon, held on Saturday, October 4, drew more than 250 participants and raised more than $30,000. Proceeds from the event will fund the Foundation’s Community Grants Program in support of youth mental health and behavioral health programs and services, substance use prevention and recovery resources for individuals of all ages, and initiatives to reduce the stigma around these issues.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day — a cool, refreshing morning that turned comfortably warm just in time for the awards,” said Kelsa Zereski, President of Reliant Foundation. “The energy from our runners, walkers, and volunteers was incredible, and you could really feel the sense of togetherness throughout the park. Each year, this event is such a wonderful reminder of what can be accomplished when our community comes together in support of one another. We’re deeply grateful for our dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, and every participant who helped make the day so meaningful.”
Beginning and ending at Shore Park in Worcester, the certified, chip-timed course offered runners and walkers a scenic loop around Indian Lake — the perfect stage for a day packed with energy, cheers, and friendly competition. This year’s event served as the year of “three-peats,” with three champions cementing their legacies in Reliant Foundation 5K history. For the third consecutive year, Oscar Herrera of Worcester blazed through the course to take home Top Overall Male honors with an impressive 16:54 finish. Matching that incredible feat, Jamie McNamara of Shrewsbury clinched her third straight title as Top Overall Female, crossing the line in 21:27. Not to be outdone, Team Munq, captained by Timothy Hally and Justin Matsen of Shrewsbury, once again dominated the competition to capture the Community Team Trophy — also for the third year in a row. There was a real sense of joy and pride as all three champions marked their consecutive victories, cheered on by fellow runners, volunteers, and families who’ve made the event a community tradition. Awards were presented in age categories ranging from “12 and Under” to “80 and Over”, highlighting the welcoming, supportive sense of community that makes the day so meaningful.
The Presenting Sponsor for this year’s race was Amazon. Sprint Sponsor was Senior Connection, while the Jog Sponsors were Seven Hills Foundation, YMCA of Central MA, George F. & Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, Country Bank, and QCC Foundation. Other major sponsors included Anna Maria College, Bay State Bank, Cornerstone Bank, and Open Sky Community Services. Longtime community event partners assisting with race planning and logistics were Bancroft School and the YMCA Greendale Family Branch.
The Reliant Foundation 5K served as the first race in the three-part “5K for Good” series — a collaborative initiative led by Reliant Foundation, Abby’s House, and Veterans Inc. Together, these organizations are proving that community partnerships can be a powerful force for good — turning collective effort into meaningful change and celebrating the incredible things that happen when people unite behind a shared mission.
The 16th Annual Abby’s House Hybrid 5K Run/Walk will take place on October 18 at West Boylston Middle/High School. Veterans Inc. will close out the “5K for Good” series with the Run4Veterans 5K Walk/Run on November 2 at Polar Park in Worcester.
For more information about how to support the Reliant Foundation or the Foundation’s grantmaking process, visit reliantfoundation.org.
About The Reliant Foundation
Established in 1988, Reliant Foundation is an independent public charity whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals of all ages in the Central and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts. As a 501(c)3 charity, the Foundation offers grants to non-profit organizations within its service area for the purpose of supporting programs that battle critical community health issues like substance use disorder, and children’s mental health. Our charity partners work with thousands of individuals in our community to provide life-saving recovery coaching, mental health and behavioral health services, and impactful education and initiatives to reduce the stigma around these issues. For more information, please visit www.reliantfoundation.org
