7th Annual Foster5K Adds Kids Dash, Moves to Hellyer County Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kate Faherty | info@foster5k.org 

Milpitas, CA – The 7th Annual Foster5K + Kids Dash is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, 2023. After being virtual the past three years, this year’s 5K will be hosted at Hellyer County Park (virtual participation still available). Sign up at Foster5k.org.   

The Foster5K + Kids Dash is a 5k hosted by community members in Silicon Valley seeking to raise funds and awareness for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley. Child Advocates and its Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program uplift children in foster care.  

For the first time ever, this year’s 5K will also feature a kids dash and bib with chip timing to attract more participants. Registration includes participation medal, popular logoed race t-shirt, a goody bag, and an on-site after party with a DJ, raffles and fun prizes. Foster5K Co-Chair and Child Advocates Board Member, Kate Faherty explained, “I’m so excited to have our first race back in-person after three years. This year will be extra special with the addition of a kids dash and a professionally timed race to attract a great mix of participants!”

Kate added, “this event is an opportunity for our community to come together in the great outdoors, engage in some friendly competition, and release endorphins while supporting our foster youth.”

In its 7th year, Foster5K had its first run in Los Altos in the Spring of 2017. Foster5K founder, Co-Chair and Child Advocates Board Member, Debbie Crouse shared that she’s proud that they sustained the event through the pandemic and is excited to see that the community continues to show up for foster kids. “Foster children experience severe trauma through no fault of their own. I choose to be on the Board of Child Advocates and focus on awareness and fundraising because of the direct impact CASAs have on positive outcomes for children in foster care. It truly is remarkable that so many people participate in this race every year and that sponsors continue to support us to help foster kids.”

As a community event we have many local sponsors who donate  from $100 to $5000. This year’s Gold Sponsor is BMC Software.   Silver Sponsors are: Matt Zampella Luxury Real Estate; Allen & Overy, LLP; Outdoor Supply Hardware; and Silicon Valley Golf Performance Center. If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact info@foster5k.org.

“We are thrilled that Foster5k is back in person and extending its offerings to attract more participants,” said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of Child Advocates of Silicon Valley. “The children we serve are some of the most vulnerable in Silicon Valley and it truly takes an entire community to serve them. When our community shows up, like this community-led event and its participants do every year, we are able to provide foster children with the nurturing support and resources they need to thrive.”

In the fiscal year 2022, Child Advocates served 797 foster children through its Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, which recruits, trains, and supports community members who are appointed with a court order by a judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in foster care. The majority of the funds raised to support these efforts are through donations. “Our ability to serve so many children is only made possible by the generosity of our donors and our volunteers,” said Ferrer. “We are extremely grateful for the financial support and visibility Foster5K + Kids Dash brings to Child Advocates.” 

About Debbie Crouse, Foster5K Co-Chair
Debbie Crouse is a long-time resident of Los Altos and brings a wealth of business experience to Child Advocates’ Board of Directors. She has been driving change within technology, service and manufacturing businesses for over 20 years. She is in her 6th year on the Board of Child Advocates of Silicon Valley and is also on the Board of Advisors for Animal Assisted Happiness. 

About Kathryne Faherty, Foster 5K Co-Chair
Kate is one of four children adopted by an amazing couple who dedicated their lives to raising their family and to their careers in educating children to their fullest potential. Her career spans leadership roles at AppDynamics, Cisco, eBay and most recently at Rubrik. Shortly after college, Kate bought a one way plane ticket to South Korea with the intent of living there for a year and immersing herself in Korean culture. Following in her parent’s footsteps, Kate became an educator in Korea and taught English as a second language at an elementary school. Observing her students’ drive to achieve academically within a culture that inspired and reinforced challenge, Kate felt the need to continue to ignite that spark in children within her own community. When she returned to the United States, she involved herself in the No Child Left Behind Program and is now a CASA for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley. Kate, as one who seeks to challenge herself in many ways, is an avid runner and a Boston Marathon qualifier. She dabbles in golf, languages, piano and throughout all aspects of her life, the pursuit of Better for herself and others!

About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley 
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization created in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We are responsible for operating the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program in Santa Clara County, which entails recruiting, training and supporting CASA Volunteers according to the National CASA Association standards. To learn more, please visit ChildAdvocatesSV.org.  

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