12th annual ‘RACE for the Orphans’ coming in May | Arts & Community

According to event co-founder Kelly Preston, the mission behind the run/ walk is to Raise Awareness, Compassion and Education about the needs of orphans in America and around the world.

RACE for the Orphans partners with adoption agencies to identify families in the process of adopting that meet the RACE grant criteria.

Families submit their grant applications to the RACE for the Orphans Fund at Lifesong for Orphans. The RACE Board of Directors works in conjunction with Lifesong professionals to select families to receive grant funds from that year’s event.

The RACE for the Orphans event is the primary way Preston and others meet those goals.

“All proceeds from the RACE go to adopting families, so the more participants we have, the more grant money we can give each family,” Preston said. “We would love to raise more than we ever have.”

All the money raised from the event helps local families trying to adopt a child in the U.S. or overseas.

Preston and her husband Jason started the RACE for the Orphans while adopting their daughter Jenna from China in 2013.

She said the adoption process, domestic or international, can cost families between $30,000-$50,000.

The RACE for the Orphans tries to defray some of those costs.

In 2023, the group raised $80,000, which will help ten families, who are also known as grant recipients.

The RACE for the Orphans is a 5K and a USATF and Peachtree Road Race qualifier.

The event includes a Tot Trot, a one-mile Fun Run/ Walk and an awards ceremony. Amazon Gift Cards will be given to the top three participating schools.

Early packet pickup is available at the Dragonfly Running Company…