Our Newest Community Impact Award Winners

From supporting running and camping programs for children and youth to providing new pathways for victims of sex trafficking and addiction, our ambassadors are making a difference where they live and work.

The Ambassadors Together committee at Marathon Health is thrilled to recognize Damir Alisa, Tracey Campbell, Victoria Emmitt, Brea Hostetler, Rhea Menke and Christina Tourangeau with the Q3 Community Impact Award.

Each quarter, up to four ambassadors or teams are selected for their volunteer efforts, and the company donates $500 in their name to the non-profit they supported.

Volunteer focus: Healthy Kids Running Series (HKRS) is a national, community-based nonprofit that provides children ages 2-14 with a fun introduction to the sport of running through five-week programs to build confidence and self-esteem and encourage a “Get Up and Go” attitude.

Photo: Victoria proudly stands with her daughter, an HKRS participant after completing the quarter-mile race.

Victoria shares her story:

“I’m the volunteer community coordinator for the program in Fort Collins, Colorado, which hosts spring and fall race seasons for kids over five consecutive Saturday mornings. The mission is to engage communities and families by providing an inclusive youth running experience that inspires kids to believe in themselves and lead an active lifestyle. Depending on their age, kids run 50 yards up to one mile. At race five, we host a parent/guardian mile as another way to model an active lifestyle for the whole family.

Our fall season took place September 9 to October 7. I work with the local school district to host our events, promote and organize race-day details, recruit community sponsors, host race days, manage volunteers, and encourage the kids to have the most fun possible! We had 50 kids running their hearts out this fall with their families and friends cheering them on. It’s a wonderful community builder and an unbelievable experience to watch young kids run in front of so many spectators. You can see the sense of pride and delight as they finish their race.

Being a volunteer coordinator is a wonderful way to connect local businesses with the community and meet families by hosting them and introducing their kids to running as part of their lifestyle. My daughter is five years old, and this was her second season running with HKRS; she started in the 75-yard dash and now runs the quarter mile. I was nervous about the big jump in distance, but seeing her commit and run with the other kindergarteners and first-graders was beautiful!”

Overall, HKRS is a fantastic nonprofit that, like Marathon Health, is living the mission and inspiring others. It’s a beyond-supportive organization with an inspiring mission, and it’s an honor and a joy to volunteer for them.

Volunteer Focus: Teen Reach Adventure Camp (TRAC) is a camping program for at-risk youth ages 12-15, usually residing in foster care, so they can participate in activities like fishing, horseback riding, camping, and hiking. Each camp provides a safe and confidential atmosphere for children who, in many cases, wouldn’t be able to attend a mainstream camp because of behavioral or medication issues.

Photo: Brea enjoying the camp experience.

Brea shares her story:

“I volunteered for a three-day camping experience for girls in Nebraska. It was intense! We challenged ourselves physically and mentally through sports, rock climbing, kayaking, and bungee jumping. We explored life, went through trials, and grew together. Most of all, we volunteers took this yearly opportunity to love on these girls and fill their cups.

We love on the kiddos who can be hard to love. We serve them and others see. We give the foster parents a break for 72 hours. The camp is completely paid for by money raised from the camp counselors and workers. The difference we make in these kids’ lives for the 72 hours we have them lasts a lifetime.”

Volunteer Focus: Women of Alabaster cares for victims of sexual trafficking and substance abuse by providing alternatives to street life. Launched in 2014, the nonprofit strives to rebuild their self-respect and self-worth, renew their faith in human kindness, and restore their desire for a life of victory.

Photo: Rhea (third from left) with other members of her volunteer team.

Rhea shares her story:

“Every first and third Wednesday of the month, I visit the streets of downtown Cincinnati, Covington, Clifton and Hamilton with a team of volunteers to rescue women from sex trafficking. We drive and walk around the streets and reach out to those who appear to be vulnerable or in crisis. We give them food and water. We talk and pray with them. We drive them to the hospital or a safe place if needed. We let them know how special and valuable they are, and we talk to them about resources they can access to get safe and into rehab.

For example, we have two buildings ― one in downtown Cincinnati and another in Hamilton ― where they can go twice a week to shower, sleep, get food and clothing, and obtain feminine and other personal hygiene products. We have nurses and trauma counselors available to help them. We can transport them to doctor appointments, court and rehab facilities, and much more.

Women of Alabaster has been helping women get out of sex trafficking for 13 years. We’ve gotten women off the streets, away from sex traffickers, and clean from drugs and alcohol. They have homes and jobs and are doing well. I’ve been volunteering for them for five years, and I love it.”

Volunteer Focus:
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics is the movement’s largest grass-roots fundraising and public awareness vehicle designed to give law enforcement members the opportunity to support Special Olympics athletes who live, work and compete in their local communities.

Photo: Christina, Tracey and Damir (left to right) show off the Vermont Torch.

Christina shares their story:

“On September 15, in partnership with our client the City of South Burlington Police Department, Damir, Tracey, and I participated in the Torch Run to raise awareness and financial support for LETR’s Vermont chapter.

The Torch Run is an actual running event in which officers and athletes run the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions and State, National, and World Games. Annually, more than 91,000 dedicated, compassionate volunteer law enforcement officers participate in the Torch Run throughout 46 nations, 12 Canadian provinces and all 50 U.S. states, raising more than $794 million since its inception in 1981.

The LETR movement made its way to Vermont in 1984. The annual Torch Run is the flagship fundraising and awareness event of the year. Torches begin in each corner of the state and are carried, mile by mile, by law enforcement and public service professionals toward Burlington, Vermont. Once in the Burlington area, participants join for the LETR Final Leg, where torches are carried to the University of Vermont for Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games opening ceremonies.”

Why the Law Enforcement Torch Run? “I was invited to participate in the Torch Run in 2022 by the school resource officer at the City of South Burlington. Together we identified the event as a great opportunity for Marathon ambassadors to volunteer alongside our client, The City of South Burlington. It’s now a tradition and this year, I invited more ambassadors to join!

Damir, Tracey, and I are longtime Marathon ambassadors, and volunteerism has been a significant aspect of our culture and code. We look for opportunities to support our communities through volunteering. The Special Olympics is also dear to my heart as I was once a school nurse at a local high school with a very active Special Olympics chapter, so I have many fond memories of those student athletes. I saw firsthand how having a team to belong to and the support of their community made a huge impact on their lives.”