On Saturday, October 14 over 300 participants raced for good in Generosity Philadelphia’s fifth annual Multi-Charity 5K in Fairmount Park. Despite the overcast early in the day, thirteen runners raised over $11,000 for Playworks Pennsylvania and its mission to ensure that all kids have access to safe and healthy play across the region.
Corrie O’Neil, one of the Playworks program managers noted, “I decided to run because it seemed like the perfect opportunity to challenge myself while also supporting Playworks. I wanted to experience the feeling of crossing a finish line!” Generosity went on to present her with the “World Changer, Top Fundraiser” award for her individual effort of raising the most for the organization.
Playworks Pennsylvania was sponsored by Charge Performance and Wellness, PECO, Bilardo and Associates LLC, Sort it Out Philly, The Endo Center of Voorhees and Temple Fox Chase Cancer Center. This year, Generosity’s 5K event generated over $248,000 in total for local charities.
Playworks Pennsylvania, part of a national nonprofit, works to bring play and physical activity into schools as a means to improve the health and well-being of children and to enhance learning. Through innovative programming and partnerships with schools, Playworks integrates physical activity and social and emotional learning skill-building into organized activities during recess to create a space where students feel included, are active, and build valuable social and emotional skills needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
In the words of one administrator at a Playworks partner school, “Playworks has created a positive climate outside during recess which transfers inside the school. Students invite others into their games or take time to model how to the play the game. I love hearing “Good job, nice try!” [Negative] recess behaviors have drastically declined.”
