Step Up for a Cause!

Queens Centers for Progress (QCP) invites the community to its annual Footsteps for Progress 5K on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Springfield Playground in Alley Pond Park. Whether you are racing for a personal best or strolling with friends, every stride helps support QCP’s mission of empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This year, QCP will be kicking off the event with a Kids’ Fun Run at 8:30 AM for ages 13 & under. Young runners will get the chance to dash across a short course and receive a special finisher’s prize! The main 5K event will follow at 9:00 AM, welcoming families, teams, and individuals of all abilities to run, walk, or roll through the beautiful park.

Council Members, Linda Lee and James F. Gennaro, who are co-sponsoring the walk, are committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities.

“Queens Centers for Progress has continued to be a proud partner, ensuring that New York’s disability community has access to the essential programming and services to maximize independence and live successful lives,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction. “Footsteps for Progress is another opportunity to bring the community together to generate support and awareness for some of our most vulnerable residents. I thank Executive Director Terri Ross, and the entire Board and staff at QCP, for their leadership and effort to host this event each year and to empower our communities.”

Council Member James F. Gennaro, a longtime supporter of QCP, echoes this enthusiasm. “I am honored to co-sponsor of this year’s Footsteps for Progress 5K Run. Queens Centers for Progress is a fantastic organization that does inspiring work supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Events like this bring our community together in such a meaningful way, and I look forward to cheering on all the participants!”

Adding to the excitement, Elizabeth DiChiara, Vice President of Taxation and Financial Compliance at Arch Insurance, a long-time sponsor of the event, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal, leading the way with her dedication to community impact.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our corporate sponsors—Arch Insurance, Mukti Petroleum, and Stop & Shop. Their support ensures that QCP can continue providing essential programs and services that empower the people we serve, and help make this event a success.

“Footsteps for Progress is a beautiful event, and an opportunity for the community and the people we serve, to come together to raise support and awareness of the challenges that people with developmental disabilities face,” says Terri Ross, Executive Director of QCP. “We love it!”

Participants can register now at www.tinyurl.com/25QCPFootsteps. Businesses and organizations can also get involved through sponsorship opportunities that showcase their commitment to making a difference. Come out and join us on a lovely Saturday morning!

ABOUT QCP

Since 1950, Queens Centers for Progress has been a cornerstone of the Queens community, providing services and support to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to promote independence, community involvement, and quality of life, offering an array of services that meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. For more information, please contact Wendy Phaff Gennaro at (718) 380-3000, ext. 325, or via email at WGennaro@queenscp.org.