LaDonna Bond, center, presents a $5,000 check from GEICO to Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Coronado Unit, signifying GEICO’s Premier National Sponsorship of the Inaugural Coronado Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Bond is flanked by (from left) Coronado Auxiliary member Theresa Davies, Ann Goodfellow, Coronado Unit Chairperson, and the always-chipper GEICO Gecko. Holding the Coronado Turkey Trot banner are Connor Wray, left, and Liam Sullivan.
The Coronado Turkey Trot 5K is about to take off in a big way. On Glorietta Bay. On Thanksgiving Day.
The 5K race has been organized by the Coronado Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and all proceeds will be donated to the hospital. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Glorietta Bay Park, just south of the Coronado Community Center.
And more good news! GEICO has stepped forward to be the National Premier Corporate Sponsor with a $5,000 donation.
“This is such wonderful news,” said Ann Goodfellow, chairman of the Coronado Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. “GEICO’s donation, along with those of our local Founding Sponsors, has made it possible for us to ensure that our inaugural race will be a resounding financial success, even before one child or adult puts their feet across the starting line.”
But in addition to generous corporate sponsorship, Goodfellow and all members of the Auxiliary want to see a big turnout for the first-time event.
All you need to do to sign up is go to www.CoronadoTurkeyTrot.com. Adults are $35 ($40 on race day) and children, 18 and under are $15.
“It’s easy,” says Amy Wray, a member of the Coronado Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. “We would like to see lots and lots of Coronado families turn out for our inaugural race. This is definitely a family event!”
She encouraged families to “throw that bird in the oven, then come on down to run the race.”
Everyone who enters will receive a long-sleeved race T-shirt, a Rady Children’s Hospital backpack, and medals for all finishers.
Strollers will be accommodated in the race, too. At the race start (and end point) there will be booths set up for crafts and there’s a chance to win a bicycle from Holland’s Bikes.
Best of all, Wray noted, is that every dollar raised will benefit Rady Children’s NICU (Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit) and Healing Services (Chaplains).
Goodfellow saluted fellow auxiliary member Theresa Davies for bringing GEICO and the Turkey Trot together. LaDonna Bond, regional manager of planning and development for GEICO Foundation, presented the check to the Auxiliary And the GEICO Gecko (who will be present on race day) was all smiles.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the second largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. Founded in 1936, the company serves more than 13 million private passenger customers and insures more than 20 million vehicles (auto and cycle).
Founding sponsors, each contributing $2,500, are CMG Financial/Kory Kavanewsky, Coronado Fitness Club, Coronado Bliss, High Tide Bottle Shop & Kitchen, Scott and Wanda Aurich and Charles and Ann Suhr.
