About Fight Against Poverty 5K

Fight Against Poverty 5k is intended to raise awareness and funding for poverty in Central Ohio. The 5k race/1 mile walk is being organized by The Ohio State University College of Social Work and the College of Social Work Student Association. The event will be held on Sunday, May 9th at Fred Beekman Park on the campus of The Ohio State University. Funds raised will benefit the Columbus Federation of Settlements.

Settlement Houses have existed in Columbus since 1899, with a common philosophy of promoting social reform utilizing the strengths of neighborhoods at the grassroots level.

The Columbus Federation of Settlements is a coalition of seven neighborhood-based organizations that helps individuals and groups build upon their strengths and draw upon community resources.  It is this historic focus on the neighborhood that differentiates Settlement Houses in Columbus from other social service agencies and provides the coalition with its greatest potential.

Poverty is predominantly concentrated in the inner city of Columbus, where one in five single mothers and their children live in poverty, and where academic achievement is lower than average for the area. The Columbus Settlement Houses are clustered in and around the central city where need is highest and residents face multiple daily challenges.

Together, the Settlement Houses cover a population of about 247,000 people—35% of the entire population of Columbus. Of these, about 65,000 (26% of the residents living within any Settlement House area) live below the federal poverty level.

The Settlement Houses provide services to areas comprising almost two-third of the total number of people in Columbus living below the federal poverty guidelines, areas comprising almost half of the total number of people living in Columbus categorized as a minority population and also provide services to areas comprising over a third of the total number of people living in Columbus over the age of 65.

Because of their locations in impoverished areas, Settlement Houses traditionally and currently serve families most in need:

• new Americans
• older adults
• members of minority populations
• people who are unemployed or underemployed
• those who are living in poverty
• and those who have multiple needs that place them at high risk for myriad social, health, economic, and personal problems

Columbus Federation of Settlements provide services such as after-school programs, community outreach, senior services, summer activities for school-age children, child care, counseling, computer training, employment counseling, GED classes, home repair, food pantries, and free clothing distribution. No matter the particular services provided, the focus remains on building upon individual neighborhood strengths.
All proceeds from the Fight Against Poverty 5k will be allocated to the Columbus Federation of Settlements.

More information about the Columbus Federation of Settlements can be found at: www.cfsettlements.org

For more information about The Ohio State University College of Social Work can be found at: http://www.csw.ohio-state.edu/

Where & When

• Sunday May 9, 2010
• The Ohio State University - Fred Beekman Park
• Registration 8:00am
• Race begins 9:00am
• Entry Fee
  • Entry Fee: $20 through day of race
• Awards
  • Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 male runners and top 3 female runners
• How to Register
  • Online, In-Store at FrontRunner, Race Day starting at 8am
• Race Packets
  • All participants will receive an event shirt, post race refreshments and special Mother's Day gift for those running/walking with their mother
• Packet Pick-Up
  • Packet pick up will take place at Front Runner during regular business hours on May 5, 6, 7th.

Presented By:

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Sponsored By:

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Have Questions?

• Contact Chelsie Giambrone or Emily Kananen at fightagainstpoverty5k@gmail.com with any questions regarding the race.

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