4th Annual Atlanta HBCU 5k Saturday at Grant Park

Hundreds of southwest Atlanta-area walkers and runners representing historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are set to participate in the 4th Annual Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance (AHBCUAA) 5K Run/Walk scholarship fundraiser and health awareness event Saturday at Grant Park.

This year’s 5K race is projected to raise more than $30,000 for scholarships that support metro Atlanta students attending the institutions making up the Alliance, according to an e-mail news release by event spokeswoman Sheena Haynes.  

Last year State Farm served as the sole Gold-Level Scholarship sponsor by contributing $5,000 or more to the race. This year The Home Depot and McDonald’s join State Farm as gold level sponsors.  

Signing on as second-time Bronze-Level Scholarship sponsors are Johnson Controls and McKesson. Pepsi and Priority Payment Systems are first-time sponsors for this level.

The annual HBCU Alumni 5K Run/Walk serves as a scholarship fundraising and health and fitness awareness event. This year’s race promises to be an exciting event for the entire family. 

Prior to the race, Ronald McDonald will lead runners and walkers in a pre-event warm-up.  During the race, Homer Depot, The Home Depot’s mascot, will keep the “little runners” busy building their own small toolboxes at the “Kid’s How to Clinic.”

In addition, McDonald’s will offer free samples of their new frozen strawberry lemonade beverage while The Home Depot staff distributes gift cards, popcorn and other promotional items. Although there is not an official job component to the event, recruiting representatives from The Home Depot will be on hand to discuss current employment opportunities available with the company.

Immediately following the race, runners and walkers can receive free blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and body mass screenings at the AHBCUAA health fair. Race participants will also be encouraged to continue moving towards a balanced, healthy lifestyle at the free McDonald’s Mc Cafe concert headlined by a surprise nationally recording artist.

This year’s theme, Run for You, Run for Them, Run for Us, embodies the health aspect and the importance of getting active, represents the scholarship dollars raised for future students of the great participating HBCUs, and symbolizes the strength and success each school achieves when the institutions work collectively. Therefore, everything associated with the race is centered on health and scholarship.

Grant Park is located at 840 Cherokee Ave. in Atlanta. The registration fee for the event is $30 and $35 on event day, June 25.

For more information about the race call 404-260-7404. To register online, visit www.hbcualumniatlanta.com.