NEWS FROM….
The Courage to Speak® Foundation.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 01, 2016 |
CONTACT: Virginia “Ginger” Katz PHONE: : (877) 431-3295 |
Running Toward a Healthy Lifestyle
The Courage to Speak Foundation Announces the 18th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race to take place on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT
Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder of the Courage to Speak® Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, announced The 18h Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race, which will take place on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 am at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut and is promoted by the Lightfoot Running Club.
Ginger and her husband, Larry, have been members of the Lightfoot Running Club for over 30 years and are co-founders of The Courage to Speak® Foundation. The race is dedicated to Ian Eaccarino, the son of Ginger and Larry, who passed away after an accidental heroin and valium overdose. The 9-Mile Race is dedicated to Ian’s memory, as he worked at the beach the summer before he died and personally planted many of the trees that are now aligned with this beautiful beach.
The Courage to Speak Foundation is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free and parents to communicate effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs. Over the past 20 years, Ginger and Larry together have presented Ian’s story to hundreds of thousands of people across the country and have been recognized on a state and national level for their work.
The Courage to Speak® Foundation has developed drug prevention education programs taught in Connecticut schools and beyond, and Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101® a free course offered in English and Spanish evaluated and recommend by Yale University that educates parents on how to keep their children safe from drugs. Over one thousand parents have attended the program and over 130 facilitators are trained to teach the course throughout Connecticut as well as many other states.
The 18th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile will begin at 8:00 am on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Calf Pasture Beach. Last year, 190 runners participated in this extraordinary community race. A plaque was given to Frank Bonaddio 12, of Norwalk for crossing the finish line as the youngest participant in the race.
Our sponsors for the race include The Lightfoot Running Club and Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department and Booth Financial Associates. But we need more help so that we can continue our important mission. Please consider becoming a sponsor: Platinum Sponsor ($2,500), Gold Sponsor ($1,000), Silver Sponsor ($500), Bronze Sponsor ($250) and Friend of the Race ($100).
For information about sponsoring the race, running in the race and volunteering, please call Ginger Katz at (877) 431-3295 or e-mail gkatz@couragetospeak.org or visit www.couragetospeak.org.
About The Courage to Speak® Foundation:
The Courage To Speak Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Norwalk, CT, whose mission is “to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free through fostering education and open communication about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.” Ginger Katz founded the organization in 1996, just months after her 20 year old son Ian James Eaccarino died of an accidental drug overdose. She and her husband Larry Katz pledged that they would do all they could to help prevent such a tragedy from befalling another family. Since then, Ms. Katz has given nearly 1000 presentations reaching hundreds of thousands of individuals – young people and the adults who care about them. The Courage to Speak Foundation developed drug prevention program for elementary, middle and high school students as well as parents through Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101®. Ms. Katz also has authored a new book called Sunny’s Story. A book for children of all ages; parents, grandparents, teachers, and others. www.couragetospeak.org
About the Lightfoot Running Club:
The Lightfoot Running Club is a Connecticut organization for runners that hosts and participates in races in several counties in Connecticut. They are committed to raising the bar of competition to reveal the true generosity of the human spirit.www.lightfootrunners.com
