Falling Leaves Road Race – Kids Kilometer
Utica First is proud to sponsor the annual Kids Kilometer - a 1/2k and 1k fun run for our area's young runners. The run begins and ends on Genesee Street in downtown Utica. Runners ages 2-7 run a 1/2K, while runners 8-12 run a 1K.
A part of the Falling Leaves Road Race, and organized by the Utica Roadrunners Club, this USATF Certified 5k runs on the flat and fast streets of Utica. The scenic 14k course winds through the hilly switchbacks of Utica's South Woods.
Visit http://www.uticaroadrunners.org/races/falling-leaves to learn more about this event.
United Way Back to School Drive
The team at Utica First, once again, helped get our community's children back to school. Our contributions provided for the purchase of hundreds of school supplies over the course of the summer. When the children were ready to return to school the United Way Back to School Drive was ready to deliver with the help of the Utica First team.
The United Way Back to School Drive runs from June to August, and is a collection of much-needed school supplies to aid children and families struggling to make ends meet.
Visit https://www.unitedwayvgu.org/gallery/back-school-supply-drive to learn more about this event.
Saranac Thursdays And Concert Series
The Utica First team took to the taps to keep the refreshments flowing at Saranac Thursday. The team poured and their volunteerism allowed Saranac to provide proceeds to the United Way.
A unique partnership formed in 1998 between United Way and its long-standing supportive community partner F.X. Matt Brewery, which hosts a weekly happy hour fundraiser and concert event throughout the summer. United Way coordinates groups of volunteers from local companies to assist with serving refreshments at Saranac Thursdays and Concert Series Events. This volunteer opportunity allows proceeds to be provided to the United Way.
Visit https://www.unitedwayvgu.org/events to learn more about this event.
2019 Boilermaker Road Race
Members of the Utica First team and their families laced up their running shoes and participated in the 2019 Boilermaker Road Race on Sunday July 14th, 2019. We sported our team shirts for the annual 15K race and became part of the full-field run.
The Boilermaker 15K Road Race was established in 1978 by Earle C. Reed. Reed was looking for a way to give back to the community that had supported his family's business, Utica Radiator (ECR International). Earle convinced his father Bob Reed, President of Utica Radiator, and the company's Treasurer Jim Benson, to underwrite a new local long distance road race, which Earle dubbed "The Boilermaker." With additional assistance from the cofounder F.X. Matt II, president of F.X. Matt Brewing Company, the first Boilermaker was run on July 16, 1978. It wasn't the first local road race, but it quickly became the most popular. The Boilermaker continues to strive to be the best 15K race in the United States, attracting athletes and fans from all over the world. The race began with 876 runners and a budget of $750. Now in its 42nd year, the Boilermaker draws more than 19,000 competitors.
Visit http://www.boilermaker.com to learn more about this event.
2019 America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk
The Utica First team is proud to be annual participants in America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk, and we were out again to help on March 2nd, 2019.
The Heart Run & Walk is held each spring at Utica College, and the event raises funds which help to improve the cardiovascular health of the community, allow more people to be trained in CPR, fund more research, educate more children, inspire people to make healthy choices, and ultimately save lives.
Thanks to your spirit and dedication, we helped the American Heart Association of the Mohawk Valley raise $967,747 toward healthier hearts!
Visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/HeartWalk/FDA-FoundersAffiliate?fr_id=4961&pg=entry to learn more about this event.
