$243K Raised For Local Nonprofits Through 2024 Race On Dulles Greenway Toll Road

ASHBURN, VA — Despite a rainy forecast for the fourth annual Run the Greenway race along the Dulles Greenway toll road, runners turned out to raise local nonprofits collectively received more than $243,000.

The toll road held the Star Wars-themed Run the Greenway on May 4, drawing about 2,000 Northern Virginia runners for a 5K, 10K, 800-meter Kids Fun Run, and virtual race. For the first time, medals and prizes were added for wheelchair participants, who first got to compete two years ago through the advocacy of the Arc of Loudoun.

The proceeds from the race benefited local nonprofits, including Arc of Loudoun, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Dulles South Food Pantry, Step Sisters, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Capital Area, Loudoun Cares, Ashburn Volunteer Fire Rescue Department, All Ages Read Together, The Salvation Army Loudoun County, Friends of Homeless Animals, Great Falls Reston Soccer Club, Loudoun Free Clinic, Fairfax CASA, Dulles South Soup Kitchen and CJ3 Foundation.

"We were excited to once again partner with Comstock and with our new partner, PR Walk and Run, to host 2,000 runners for the fourth annual Run The Greenway race at Loudoun Station on Saturday," said Terry Hoffman, the public and customer relations manager for Dulles Greenway. "The Dulles Greenway is committed to serving the Loudoun County community, and the funds raised through Run The Greenway will support local non-profit organizations that are making significant positive contributions to our community."

The race shut down 14 miles of the Dulles Greenway toll road in the westbound direction for several hours on May 4. Dulles Greenway CEO Renee Hamilton and Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burke provided remarks, and participants enjoyed live music by Special Occasions, food trucks, face painting and more after the race.

Over the last four years, Run The Greenway has raised over $887,000 for local nonprofits. The Dulles Greenway donated an additional $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 to the top three participating nonprofit partners with the most registered runners, $5,000 each to the top large and small fundraising organizations, and $5,000 to a select charity on behalf of the top fundraising individual.

The top fundraising nonprofit was Fairfax CASA, also known as Court Appointed Special Advocates serving children experiencing abuse or neglect.

"The last two years have been incredibly challenging for our organization, as the number of new child abuse cases surged and the number of children in need of an advocate increased significantly," Darcy Hubbard, executive director of Fairfax CASA. "With this increase in case volume comes added expenses, and the money we raised and won truly puts a dent in the funding gap we are experiencing."

Along with donations to nonprofits, Dulles Greenway donated 2,000 remaining pounds of food and water leftover from the event to the Dulles South Food Pantry.