Photos from the 3rd Annual Step Up for Colleen 5K
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Category: Blog
BlogStep Up for Colleen
Registration Now Open for the 2016 Step Up for Colleen 5K
Race Organizers Accepting Sponsorships to Defray Cost of Race, Generate Additional Resources for Scholarship Fund
(ANDOVER, Massachusetts) – Online registration is now open for the Third Annual Step Up for Colleen 5K, in memory of beloved teacher Colleen Ritzer, at www.stepupforcolleen.com, to be held on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit college scholarships awarded to graduating Andover, Danvers and Nashoba Regional High School seniors who plan to pursue a teaching career after college.
Race director Nina Caron expects more than 4,000 walkers and runners to descend upon the USA Track & Field certified course again this year. “Our 2014 and 2015 events exceeded all expectations, and provided financial resources to enable graduates of Andover and Danvers High Schools to pursue a teaching career, just like Colleen,” she says. “The community has come together in an incredible way to honor Colleen’s legacy, and to fund a lasting scholarship that will allow her love of life and for teaching to live on in other educators who share her passion.”
Century Bank has signed on as one of the 2016 event’s title sponsors. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Benefits vary by level, and include a company logo on event apparel, recognition on the race website and in all promotional materials, public acknowledgement at the event, complimentary registrations and more. Companies and organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Kim Grady at kim@stepupforcolleen.com or (978) 494-4435. More information is available here.
About Colleen Ritzer
Colleen Ritzer, a lifelong resident of Andover, passed away on October 22, 2013. She was a 2007 graduate of Andover High School and a 2011 graduate of Assumption College. Colleen was a math teacher at Danvers High School and pursuing a graduate degree at Salem State College. She adored spending time with her family and friends, and was an amazing daughter and big sister to her brother and sister, Daniel and Laura. She made a lasting impression on everyone she met. From a young age, Colleen knew she wanted to be a teacher and worked diligently to achieve her goal. Even though teaching was her profession, it was also one of her favorite hobbies and her passion. She spent countless hours finding unique and creative ways to inspire and teach her students.
About the Step Up for Colleen Fund
The Step Up for Colleen Fund, held at the Essex County Community Foundation, supports charitable activities that honor the legacy of Colleen Ritzer, including the Colleen E. Ritzer Scholarship Fund, which benefits graduating Andover, Danvers and Nashoba Regional High School seniors who demonstrate a passion for teaching, academic excellence, and love of family. Since its inception, the Colleen E. Ritzer Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $50,000 to 21 deserving students.
BlogStep Up for Colleen
FOX 25: Thousands turn out for 5k held in teacher Colleen Ritzer’s honor
Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston
ANDOVER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) — More than 5,000 people honored Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer at a road race in her memory on Sunday.
As runner Nina Caron looks over a sea of pink at the Step Up for Colleen 5k, she said she teared up Sunday morning.
BlogStep Up for Colleen
NECN: Road Race in Memory of Teacher
There was a sea of pink Sunday in North Andover, Massachusetts, to honor Colleen Ritzer, a native of the community.
“When she walked into a room, all I can picture is her glowing smile, and that glowing smile honestly lit up the room,” said Ritzer’s friend, Dan Brennan.
BlogStep Up for Colleen
CBS Boston: Thousands Walk, Run To Remember Danvers High School Teacher
ANDOVER (CBS) — A sea of pink filled the streets of Andover on Sunday morning as thousands gathered to remember a beloved teacher.
More than 3,000 people participated in the “Step Up For Colleen” 5K Walk/Run in Ritzer’s hometown of Andover.
BlogStep Up for Colleen
WCVB: Road race held in memory of Danvers teacher
Proceeds from the second Step Up For Colleen 5K will benefit a foundation named for Colleen Ritzer, which provides college scholarships for Andover or Danvers high school students who reflect her values and plan to become teachers.
BlogStep Up for Colleen
Thousands to #StepUp4Colleen
Registration Open for 2015 Step Up for Colleen 5K
(ANDOVER, Massachusetts) – Family and friends of Colleen E. Ritzer today announced that the second annual Step Up for Colleen 5K will be held in Andover on Sunday, May 3, 2015 in memory of Colleen Ritzer. Proceeds from the event will support the Step Up for Colleen Fund at Essex County Community Foundation which benefits the Colleen E. Ritzer Scholarship Fund that provides college scholarships to high school graduates who pursue education as a major and reflect Colleen’s values.
Registration for the 2015 Step Up for Colleen 5K is now open at www.stepupforcolleen.com. The new website features information about Colleen Ritzer, an online volunteer sign-up page, and a video of the race course. The site also features a ‘social wall’ that collects and shares the reasons why individuals have decided to #StepUpforColleen. The purpose of the wall is to allow participants a forum to inspire others to #StepUpforColleen.
“Last year’s Step Up for Colleen not only provided an opportunity for thousands in the community to come together to remember Colleen, but also raised resources to provide scholarships for future caring and compassionate teachers graduating from Andover and Danvers,” said the Ritzer family. “As Colleen’s parents, brother and sister, we cannot begin to express our sincere gratitude to those who participated in last year’s race. It was a reminder of the many lives Colleen touched or changed. We look forward to the sea of pink ascending Bartlet Street as the community once again ‘Steps Up for Colleen’.”
More than 4,000 registrants participated in the inaugural Step Up for Colleen 5K. “The 2014 event exceeded all expectations,” says race director Nina Caron, who expects well over 5,000 runners and walkers this year. “The 2015 race will feature several enhancements, including a USA Track & Field certified course and youth-sized shirts,” she adds.
A number of sponsorship opportunities are available. Benefits for sponsors vary by level, and include a company logo on event apparel, recognition online and in promotional materials, public acknowledgement at the event, up to 40 complimentary registrations, and more. Companies and organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Kim Grady at kim@stepupforcolleen.com or (978) 494-4435. More information is also available at www.stepupforcolleen.com/about/sponsors.
About Colleen Ritzer
Colleen Ritzer, a lifelong resident of Andover, passed away on October 22, 2013. She was a 2007 graduate of Andover High School and a 2011 graduate of Assumption College. Colleen was pursuing a graduate degree at Salem State College and was a math teacher at Danvers High School. She adored spending time with her family and friends, and was an amazing daughter and big sister to her brother and sister, Daniel and Laura. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met. From a young age, Colleen knew she wanted to be a teacher and worked diligently to achieve her goal. Even though teaching was her profession, it was also one of her favorite hobbies and her passion. She spent countless hours finding unique and creative ways to inspire and teach her students.
About the Step Up for Colleen Fund
The Step Up for Colleen Fund supports charitable activities that honor the legacy of Colleen Ritzer, including the Colleen E. Ritzer Scholarship Fund, which benefits Andover and Danvers High School seniors who demonstrate a passion for teaching, academic excellence, and love of family.