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Madison Area YMCA
Marketing & Communications Department
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For Immediate Release

The Madison Area YMCA’s The Mind Matters 5K a Great Success

Caption L-R: Coming in at the finish line at the Madison Area YMCA “The Mind Matters 5K: Mentally Healthy One Stride at a Time”: Sebastian Nicewicz, the top male finisher overall and Hogan Dwyer, the first-place winner in the 20-29 age category. Not pictured: Jenna Robeson, the top female finisher overall

Caption L-R: Madison Area YMCA Vice President of Organization Advancement Sharon Kunas; Madison Area YMCA Board Chair Michael Caulfield; Madison Area YMCA Associate Development Director Leigh Anne Soroka; Madison Police Department Detective Paul Papamarkos and Madison Area YMCA Youth & Teen Development Director Allison Bardon.

(Madison, NJ) May 26, 2017—Hundreds of runners and walkers laced up their running shoes for a great cause at the Madison Area YMCA’s "The Mind Matters 5K: Mentally Healthy One Stride at a Time” and 1-mile family fun run/walk on the campus of Giralda Farms in Madison. It was the 21^st year that Pfizer served as the lead corporate sponsor of the race. All proceeds raised benefitted the Madison Area YMCA's programs that heal the whole person: emotionally, mentally and physically.

A highlight at the event included the participation of 60 racers/walkers that joined through the Florham Park Public School district. John Csatlos, a Madison resident and administrator for the Florham Park Public School district spearheaded the effort. He noted that the district tied its staff’s Professional Day to the 5K this year to foster a work/life balance in a meaningful way. Noting the volume of services that the Y provides to the community and youth, including the free 7^th grade membership, he also pointed to a Y program that the school district particularly values. “Project Community Pride is a great fit for us,” said Mr. Csatlos. “Our teachers have said that they see the benefits in their classrooms from the services.” Florham Park is a partner with the Y’s Project Community Pride program, a counseling service for youth and teens.

The Madison Area YMCA's The Mind Matters 5K is an influential fundraising event for the Madison Area YMCA’s Annual Fund. The Annual Fund enables hundreds of children and families to participate in Y membership, innovative programming, wellness initiatives and services including child care, early childhood education and summer camps at the Madison Area YMCA’s Family Center and the F.M. Kirby Children’s Center of the Madison Area YMCA.

As a cause-driven charitable organization, the Madison Area YMCA is dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, and improving the community’s health and well-being and giving back by providing support to our neighbors.

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