Family Promise of Essex County (FPE) announced that registration is open for its first-ever Track & Field-Certified 5K Run/Walk, taking place on Saturday, June 24^th at 8:30am at Verona Park. Anyone unable to participate in person can still support the cause through a virtual 5K option.

The FPE 5K Run/Walk is an annual fundraising event where runners and walkers from across Essex County come together to raise awareness and much-needed funds for families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. This is the first year the event will be a certified, timed 5K, but non-competitive runners and walkers are welcome and encouraged to participate. The course — consisting of two loops and a partial third loop around the beautiful Verona Park Lake—is entirely on a paved path within the park and will be run rain or shine.

All 5K registrants participating at Verona Park will receive a FPE 5K Run/Walk t-shirt the morning of the race. Medals will be awarded to top male and female finishers and all runners and walkers will receive a ribbon.

A registration link is available on the FPE website (www.fpessexnj.org) or you can register by visiting: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Verona/FamilyPromiseofEssexCounty5KRunWalkforChange

The FPE 5K Run/Walk is being sponsored by BRWL Studio and W.H. Connolly Insurance. Sponsorship opportunities are still available at various levels. Please contact Angela Lewis at angela@fpessexnj.org to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. 

About Family Promise of Essex County, Inc.

Family Promise of Essex County’s (FPE) mission is to help homeless and at-risk families achieve self-sufficiency by providing shelter, social services, and housing assistance through a community-based approach. FPE envisions a community in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. 

Family Promise of Essex County began in 1988 as a non-sectarian response to the crisis of family homelessness in Essex County. FPE is an affiliate of Family Promise, which currently has over 200 affiliates nationwide. In 2022, over 550 families received FPE services, and approximately 50% of this number were children. FPE recognizes that family homelessness and poverty are complex issues that require comprehensive, innovative solutions. Solving homelessness is not just about housing. Our holistic approach to the crisis of family homelessness includes three areas of focus: prevention and diversion, emergency shelter, and housing and stabilization.