The walk is being organized by immigrant advocate group Make the Road New York. Organizers are anticipating between 500 and 1,000 walkers, mostly from Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The fundraising goal is $75,000. The walk raised $50,000 last year.
About $29,000 has been raised so far; the top fundraiser, Nicole DeNuccio, has raised over $4,000. “We really try to reward people who really go out of their way to raise money,” said Katie Lyon-Hart a development associate with MRNY in a telephone interview.
As part of the fundraising “we are reaching out to a lot of local sponsors. … We’re really trying to build our grass-roots fundraiser base from local mom and pop businesses,” as opposed to the typical fundraising method of soliciting donations from large corporations, said Lyon-Hart. Although the payoff may not be as large, the connection with the community is well worth it, she said.
The funds will be used for MRNY’s community organizing programs that address issues like workplace justice, civil rights, and immigration reform.
Registration begins at noon on Saturday at Northern Playground, located at Northern Boulevard and 93rd Street in Queens. At the event will be friends and family of MNRY members, and other organizations that also provide services for immigrants, such as the Mirabal Sisters, the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, and Adhikaar. T-shirts and prizes will be awarded by elected officials for those who raise the most funds. After the walk there will be a picnic featuring entertainment by local musicians.
Individuals or groups interested in signing up to participate in the walk can visit MNRY’s website, as can businesses interested in sponsoring a walker or the event.
This is the second year for the walk. Last year “we had a lot of support from local elected officials, who we expect to come out again this year, [like] Christine Quinn and local Queens electeds,” said Lyon-Hart. “It was really good, kind of a celebration.”
