Belmont Park to Host Annual Walk for St. Mary’s Kids and Family Fun Day for Second Year in a Row
St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), along with St. Mary’s children and families, announced the continuation of their partnership today at the Aqueduct Race Track, bringing the annual “Walk for St. Mary’s Kids and Family Fun Day” to Belmont Park for the second year in a row. The Walk for St. Mary’s Kids and Family Fun Day will take place at Belmont Park on May 17th.
The announcement was delivered in a special Winner’s Circle presentation at Aqueduct by Charles E. Hayward, President and CEO of The New York Racing Association, and Burton Grebin, MD, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. They were joined by Walk Grand Marshals James Kelly, Daquana Purnell, Elizabeth Kessler, and Kaitlyn Coscia, all St. Mary’s patients, and their families.
“The St. Mary’s community, from our medical and rehabilitation staff to the children and families we proudly serve, are grateful for the continued support and partnership of Belmont Park and NYRA,” said Dr. Grebin. “Strong community partnerships, as demonstrated by NYRA and all of our valued Walk partners, are integral to our success as we strive to provide the best possible care for thousands of New York’s children.”
The partnership brings the region’s leading provider of post-acute care for children together with the region’s most famous racetracks to raise funds and awareness for some of New York’s most seriously ill and injured children. Last year, 3,000 participants joined in the Walk that raised nearly $300,000 to support vital programs and services for children in St. Mary’s inpatient, home and community based programs.
“NYRA is thrilled to be a partner in St. Mary’s annual walk and to support this great event by hosting it at beautiful, historic Belmont Park,” said Hayward. “In my visits to St Mary’s, it has been exhilarating to see what the St Mary’s staff and professionals do for these children from our metropolitan area, who are so deserving and so in need of all our help.”
Belmont Park and NYRA are also fielding a team that will participate in the Walk for St. Mary’s Kids and will be running St. Mary’s PSAs and advertisements and distributing promotional materials at Belmont Park throughout the racing season.
The Walk has already generated considerable corporate and community support. Partners to date include UFCW Local 1500, Belmont Park, Long Island Board of Realtors, Cardiovascular Associates, Cord Meyer Development, Hamilton Cavanaugh & Associates, NY Mets, TD Bank, 106.7 Lite FM, AriZona Beverages, Charles Schwab, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Grassi & Co, Panera Bread, and Royal Waste Services.
For more information on the Walk, call 718-281-8890 or visit www.stmaryskids.kintera.org/walk09
