The results of the Heroes for Education Run Walk are in, and clearly public education is the winner! More than 1,000 runners, students, teachers, district employees, volunteers, families, and many friends gathered at John Prince Park in Lake Worth to raise awareness and funds for students and teachers in Palm Beach County Public Schools. The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County raised more than $75,000 thanks to the support of the community.
“The Heroes in Education Run Walk was more than just another fundraiser. It was a celebration. As we emerge from the terrible pandemic of the last 18 months, it is clear that our principals, teacher and students are ready to get back to a full schedule of activities. Over 1,100 people registered for today’s event….and 65 of our District’s 180 schools entered ‘teams’. Today was a celebration of life….fun….and public education in Palm Beach County”, states James S. Gavrilos, President & CEO of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County.
An added bonus to the awards given out were eight ‘Heroes Awards’ sponsored by the business community. These ‘Heroes Awards’ were presented to schools for top participation and fastest run teams.
The winners are:
• Top Participating Team, sponsored by RSM: Panther Run Elementary
• Top Participating Elementary School, sponsored by Equitable Advisors: Clifford O. Taylor/Kirkland Elementary
• Top Participating Middle School, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida): Polo Park Middle School
• Top Participating High School, sponsored by PBSO: John I. Leonard High School
• Top Participating Multi-Grades School, Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare: Royal Palm School
• Fastest Elementary School Run Team, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare: Acreage Pines Elementary
• Fastest Middle School Run Team, sponsored by PBSO: Christa McAuliffe Middle School
• Fastest High School Run Team, sponsored by Optum: Boca Raton Community High School
Top Fundraiser: Tiffany Monsour, who won a new chromebook, thanks to World Wide Technology.
Another addition to this year’s event was the School Mascot Dash, with the fastest mascot crossing the finish line by Grove Park Elementary. The winning school will earn a cash prize, thanks to the support of UnitedHealthcare.
There were winners in several age group categories of the race including:
• Male Overall Winner: Travis Meier
• Female Overall Winner: Jill Mahler from West Palm Beach
• Male Master Winner: Vladimir Castro from Wellington
• Female Master Winner: Ulrike Vernachio from West Palm Beach
• Male Grandmaster Winner: Pedro Palenzuela from Lake Worth
• Female Grandmaster Winner: Roxana Viera from Jupiter
For a list of complete race results, go to: Heroes for Education Run Walk Race Results. The event is a favorite among runners, families, clubs and other organizations focused on furthering youth education and health. The Education Foundation raises and invests $1.5 million annually in funding for initiatives that improve student academic performance, open access to learning opportunities, and increase graduation rates. The Foundation also impacts teachers by providing critical support through Red Apple Supplies and GoTeach! Classroom Grants.
The Heroes for Education 5K would like to thank our Presenting Sponsors: UnitedHealthcare and Optum, along with our heroic partners: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, PNC Bank, RSM US LLP, Equitable Advisors, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida), Keiser University, School District Wellness Taskforce, UBS Financial Services, BodyArmor, Erneston & Sons Produce, TooJay’s and Runner’s Edge.
