Great Lakes Friends of Safe Passage host Esperanza 5K Run to benefit Guatemala
From staff reports
Great Lakes Friends of Safe Passage will sponsor the second annual Esperanza 5K run on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. (registration at 9) at the Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. “Esperanza” is the Spanish word for “hope”. Safe Passage is an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and opportunity to children of the Guatemala City garbage dump community. Great Lakes Friends is one of 17 regional “friends” groups throughout the United States, Canada, Guatemala and Europe that support and promote Safe Passage through fundraising and awareness activities. Since 2005, over 50 Traverse City area residents have traveled to Guatemala to visit and volunteer at Safe Passage, three have served on the Board of Directors, and several hundred have supported fundraising and educational activities.
Born in 1999 from the passionate vision of the late Hanley Denning, a young educator from Maine, Safe Passage today channels the efforts of teachers, staff, volunteers and supporters to turn the dream of education into a reality for Guatemala’s most impoverished youth. Serving over 550 children and 300 families, Safe Passage impacts more than 3,000 people struggling to overcome generational poverty at the largest landfill in Central America. The plight of these families was featured in the 2007 academy award-nominated documentary, “Recycled Life”.
Safe Passage provides comprehensive programs that ensure children and their parents have opportunity to gain the skills needed to obtain stable jobs, to be self-sufficient, and to lead their families out of poverty in a dignified and permanent way. From preschool to high school, children receive developmental care, tutoring, English classes, computer skills, sports and art programming, as well as nutritious meals, health care, and a safe place to socialize. Adult literacy, job skill development, and family nurturing programs have been added in recent years to help address inter-generational poverty. More information about Safe Passage is available at www.safepassage.org.
The 2011 Esperanza 5K course covers varied terrain including trails through wooded areas. The 1-mile course is paved. Walkers as well as competitive runners are encouraged to participate. Refreshments and a Guatemalan arts and crafts sale will follow the race. Individual pre-registration is $25, or $30 on race day. A reduced rate is offered to families of three or more living at the same address of $65 to pre-register and $80 on race day. Pre-registration includes t-shirt and post-race refreshments; for race day registration, t-shirts are subject to availability. To pre- register or find more information visit http://tinyurl.com/esperanza5k. You may also email greatlakesfriends@safepassage.org or call (231) 590-6072.
