Run4Fun

We’re grateful to HITLAB for inviting our Founder & Executive Director, , LMSW, to speak at the HITLAB Fall Innovators Summit (Dec 2–4, 2025) at the Microsoft Tech Center in NYC—and honored that Run4Fun was selected as the Summit’s Charity Partner. 💙

A special thank you to Jerry Antimano and the HITLAB team. Jerry completed the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon as a charity runner for Run4Fun and is still fundraising to support our evidence-based, trauma-informed SEL program—strengthening youth mental health through running + play in a healing, safe, inclusive space. ✨

One of the most meaningful moments was hearing our youth leaders Max and Leah share their voices and leadership at the Summit. Their stories remind us: when young people have consistent spaces rooted in safety, belonging, and caring relationships, they can heal, grow, thrive, and step into leadership.

💛 Support Run4Fun by donating to Jerry’s post-marathon fundraiser — link in bio.

We had a blast today at Boardwalk Kids Run! Our youth toed the line with excitement — many of them running their first race! Our coaches and grown ups cheered as they ran with joy and determination.

This is a reminder of how fun running can truly be and the positive impact it has on our mental health as an outlet for stress, a builder of confidence, and a reason to come together. We are so grateful for this opportunity to have the youth from different schools and programs at the same event, experience running at this scale, and utilize the work (and play!) we’ve practiced all season. Run4Fun team, we are so proud of you! 💙💛🏅

Step by Step, Beat by Beat, Run4MentalHealth 👟💓 The transformative power of running and play is a proven path to mental resilience for our young people. Keep them moving together; keep them shining. 🌟 Let's cultivate mental well-being together. 💙💛

Happy Holidays!

💛💙👟
“If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving” ~Martin Luther King Jr.~
💛 .kany0ngolo .manske

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” -Charles Schaefer

The power of play and sport changes lives! One of young female participants in our program began non-verbal. The school psychologist expressed she did not speak in school or after-school. The school measured the effectiveness of our program, and found it was the only intervention that was successful with our group of girls. By the end of our program, the young girl was speaking, was leading running games, and was more engaged in school. 😍🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏿‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

photo credit 📸