New York, April 17, 2024 — New York Road Runners (NYRR) today announced a multi-million-dollar, five-year initiative in partnership with New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to expand access to running and bridge the physical activity gap for middle-school aged city youth. Through June 2029, the New York City non-profit will invest over $3 million to fund underserved New York City school districts to launch and sustain middle school running teams. Ultimately, the initiative will serve at least 100 New York City public middle schools in 20 school districts across the five boroughs, impacting more than 7,000 students, who will develop the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life.

“At New York Road Runners, we believe every child should have the opportunity to play sports and be active,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “We’ve enjoyed a decades-long partnership with New York City Public Schools and with their support, have impacted hundreds of thousands of kids. This exciting new initiative will extend our reach, specifically with middle school youth, and we look forward to empowering the next generation of athletes for years to come.”

For two decades NYRR has been one of the city agency’s largest and most enduring physical activity partners, providing free physical programming and events to students through Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR’s running-based youth program currently serving 60,000 kids across the five boroughs.. This new, NYRR-funded initiative will further the non-profit’s presence in underserved New York City schools. Participating schools will implement a 10-week running team curriculum, which includes two 60-minute sessions per week, and attend at least one free NYRR youth event. Schools from districts 5, 9, and 23 in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn will engage in the six-week pilot program, starting in April 2024, with three additional school districts joining for the 2024-2025 school year. The initiative will be administered and supported by The Fund for Public Schools and the Office of School Wellness Programs.

“Sports are more than just a physical activity — they are an opportunity for our young people to learn leadership, practice teamwork, and understand firsthand what it means to overcome odds and charge forward,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “I applaud New York Road Runners for their investment towards the health and wellness of our public school students through this multi-million dollar program. To our future track champions, it’s time to lace up your shoes, get on your marks, and race to the finish line!”

“We are so fortunate to have New York Road Runners as a local partner, dedicating significant resources to students’ health and well-being through free developmental running programs and events in our public schools," said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. "Our schools know prioritizing wellness, especially physical activity, is critical to the success of our young people, and this new investment makes it easier for schools to offer and engage their students in running activities that are so uniquely grounded in New York City’s identity.”

“As the Director for the Mayor's Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation, I applaud New York Road Runners for their steadfast commitment to reinvesting in New York City's youth, particularly in our high-need areas. Their partnership with New York City Public Schools, the Office of School Wellness Programs, and The Fund for Public Schools to expand access to running programs exemplifies their dedication to addressing disparities in our city. Our administration fully supports their efforts, recognizing the profound impact these initiatives will have on our youth's physical health, personal development, and academic success. This collaborative endeavor not only promotes a culture of wellness but also fosters community engagement and empowerment. I commend this initiative and look forward to its positive outcomes for our city's youth,” said Jasmine Ray, Director, Mayor's Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation.

NYRR and NYCPS will target middle school students as they are in an age group that is often the least engaged, with research from the American Academy of Pediatrics indicating about 70% of children and teens drop out of organized sports by age 13. The falloff is compounded by income inequality, with the Aspen Institute Stay of Play 2023 reporting that only 25% of youth ages 6-12 in homes earning under $25,000 regularly participate in sports, compared to 39% of kids from homes earning $100,000 or more. Assessing key health indicators, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), median income, chronic absenteeism, and public housing, the program will focus on school districts and communities with the most need.

“New York City Public Schools will greatly benefit from this new and exciting partnership with New York Road Runners that will provide opportunities for participation in a running program for our middle school students,” said Stephen Cockrell, CEO of the Fund for Public Schools. “The Fund is thrilled to facilitate opportunities for our students to enjoy sports and prioritize their well-being.”

“In our Office’s long-term support of student wellness under the NYCPS Citywide Wellness Policy, no other physical activity partner has provided such broad and comprehensive programming, events and opportunities for our schools and students as New York Road Runners," said Flavia Puello-Perdomo, Chief of Schools for Community Supports and Wellness. "Their investment in developing a pipeline of young runners over five years is yet another example of their deep commitment to giving our students good opportunities to practice physical literacy, in accessible ways that showcase all that our city has to offer.”

The benefits of youth sports are well-documented. Physically, an active lifestyle can reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases. Sports can also improve self-esteem and combat loneliness, with youth who regularly exercise reporting better mental health. The impact of physical activity extends to the classroom – exercise is linked to improved academic achievement and enhanced cognitive skills, concentration, and attention. Over the past two decades, NYRR has engaged more than 2.5 million students nationwide through evidence-based games and activities. Expanding Rising New York Road Runners to middle schoolers will create a pipeline of athletes and support long-term growth throughout high school and beyond.

NYRR’s youth and community programs are supported by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the Premier Partner of NYRR and NYRR youth and community programs and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon; New Balance, the Official Athletic Footwear and Apparel Partner of NYRR; and the New Balance Foundation.

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.

About Office of School Wellness Programs:

The New York City Public Schools’ Office of School Wellness Programs empowers students to take care of their minds, bodies, and others around them to build a foundation for lifelong learning. The Office has partnered with New York Road Runners for nearly 20 years and works with districts and schools to create opportunities for health and physical education, and other wellness-related programming, to meet the vision of NYCPS’ Citywide Wellness Policy.