More than just a race, Steps For Students hits 10th milestone
December 23, 2014
HOUSTON — Preparations continue for the upcoming Steps for Students 5K Run and the David K. Guite Memorial 1k Family Fun Run, now in its 10th year.
This year’s race, set for Feb. 21, 2015, will be chip-timed and features a single-loop course starting in downtown Houston beside the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the Chancery, 1700 San Jacinto St.
Presented by Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta and chaired by Diana Dávila Martínez and Román Martínez, the event is an Archdiocese-wide race where all school and parish communities come together to support Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The goal is to raise awareness and support for the network of Catholic schools and Catholic education as a whole.
Román Martínez, president and chief executive officer of Texas Taxis, the parent company of both Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta, said people can still support the event, even if they are not runners. “You can help underwrite the event with a sponsorship of the race,” he said. “As a sponsor you can receive several race benefits, but most importantly you will be helping support tuition assistance to students throughout the Archdiocese.
“You can also come out on race day and enjoy a wonderful festive morning cheering the runners, being blessed by our Cardinal (Daniel Cardinal DiNardo) and enjoying the fellowship in the Catholic School Village,” he said.
In his fifth year chairing the event, Martinez said the race has grown beyond their imagination because of the hard work of all the students, parents, teachers and principals who participate in so many ways.
“From a couple of hundred participants to now over 10,000, Steps for Students is one of the largest 5K runs in the City of Houston. This Archdiocesan event showcases the importance of Catholic education in our community,” he said.
Dávila Martínez said Steps for Students is more than just a fundraiser for the schools.
“It is one of the few opportunities that exists that brings all the schools in the Archdiocese together,” she said. “The community-building and solidarity you feel on race day is second to none. While we are all part of individual schools and parishes, it is exciting to have an event that brings us all together.”
Mazie McCoy, first-year principal at Corpus Christi Catholic School, said a lot of emphasis has been placed on the fundraiser.
“We kicked it off with a pep rally led by our newly organized Spirit Squad, she said. “The students learned of their incentives: register online to receive a free dress pass; the class who raises the most money will receive a pizza party; and, if we get 100 percent participation, the students will earn a mini field day.”
Underwriting categories range from $500, $1,000, $1,500 all the way to $15,000. All funds raised by each particular school go back directly to those schools to help them with their needs. Schools can also donate funds to sister schools or support a cause, such as scholarships and social justice programs.
People can also contribute directly through the website, www.steps4students.org, to any of the 61 teams that represent all of the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese who will be participating on race day.
Online registration is already underway and will remain open until 11 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2015. Visit www.steps4students.org to register and learn more about the race, or “Like” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StepsforStudents.