7th Annual James Mattioli 5K - VIRTUAL

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT WILL BE AN ALL VIRTUAL EVENT DUE TO COVID-19.  ALL 2020 REGISTRATIONS (5K/VIRTUAL/KIDS RUN) AND SPONSORSHIPS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED TO OUR 2021 RACE.**

ABOUT JAMES:

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, we invite you to join us in your neighborhoods and on your treadmills for the 7th Annual James Mattioli 5K to honor the life of a young boy taken from us far too soon, at Sandy Hook School on December 14, 2012.  James was a loving, outgoing, and curious young boy with a deep love for his family, for being outdoors, and for all things related to numbers, sports, and fun.  James had a smile that could light up any room, and to know James was to know love in its purest form.

Our annual event was founded to remember James and the spirit and heart he shared with his family, friends, classmates, and community.  Our annual race provides us with the opportunity to create a legacy for James with a scholarship fund that his parents, Cindy and Mark, have established to honor the community of Milford for their lasting memories there before their move to Sandy Hook and for the city’s ongoing support following James’s death.  It is the Mattioli family’s intent to have a long partnership with the city and its students pursuing higher education.  Our hope is to keep the legacy of James close to our hearts in Milford, and our goal is to give back to the community which James and his family deeply loved.

EVENT PROCEEDS:

Our race funds four annual scholarships to graduating seniors at Milford’s two public high schools, Jonathan Law High School and Joseph Foran High School.  The scholarships honor two students at each high school and are a tribute to James’s interests and loves.  Two of the scholarships (one at each high school) are awarded to students pursuing a degree in mathematics, engineering, or architecture, and two of the scholarships are for students who have been a lifeguard and/or are pursuing a degree in fire science, public safety, or criminal justice.  

Being that our 2020 event was postponed due to COVID, we are grateful to have your continued confidence in our ability to provide an event that supported community wellness and generated a boost to the non-profit sector.  Thanks to your steadfast support, we were able to donate a total of $42,500 in 2020 to eleven different non-profits:

• James Mattioli Memorial Scholarships through the Milford BOE - $12,500 (our annual four scholarships PLUS six additional honorable mention awards)
• Beth-El Center, Milford - $5,000
• CT Burns Care Foundation - $5,000
• Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation - $5,000
• Milford, CT Youth and Family Services - $4,300
• Boys & Girls Club of Milford - $3,300
• Milford, CT Public Library - $2,400
• KID-U-NOT Living Organ Donor Fund - $2,000
• Horizons National - $2,000
• Sacred Heart University - $750
• Boys and Girls Village - $250

RACE DETAILS:

This year's event will be an all virtual one, but our certified 5K course starts at Milford Fire Headquarters (72 New Haven Avenue) near Fowler Field, passes the James Mattioli Playground on Gulf Street, and runs along Milford's beautiful Gulf Beach for a stretch before ending back at Fowler Field.  The course is a flat and fast one and suitable for all levels of runners and walkers.  Hopefully in 2022 we will be able to see you here in person on our course!

Course map link: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7331218

Due to our 2021 event being an all virtual event and the differences in participants courses/terrain, there will be no age group awards this year.  We hope to resume this as an in-person event in 2022 and will offer awards to our overall men's and women's champions along with medals to the top three finishers (male and female) in our age groups (9 & under, 10-13, 14-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)

Please note that regardless of whether you registered for the 5K, the virtual event, or the kids run, your commemorative short sleeve cotton blend race shirt that is included with your registration fee will be mailed to you.  T-shirts will only be provided to everyone who registers by February 28th to allow for t-shirt production and mailing time.  Everyone who registers between March 1st and race day will NOT receive a race shirt.  

Race fees are as follows:

• James Mattioli 5K VIRTUAL Run (all ages) - $26

*ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 19th AT NOON*  

There will be no packet pick up nights this year due to COVID.  All race shirts will be mailed to our registered participants.  

DONATIONS:

If you would like to support our cause, please know that we welcome donations at ANY level.  All donations will go directly to the James R. Mattioli Memorial Scholarship Fund and will not be used toward race expenses. 

THANK YOU:

Our event simply would not be possible without the help of many individuals, companies, and organizations in the community of Milford and its surrounding towns. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Milford Fire Department, Milford Recreation, the Milford Police Department, and Milford Mayor Ben Blake and all of our financial sponsors for their tremendous support and partnership with the James Mattioli 5K year after year. We truly value their time and commitment to our event and the community.

RACE CONSULTANT:

Marty Schiavone has over 30 years of experience in the industry and will help coordinate this event. His company, MS Running Productions directs and consults on more than 50 Run & Walk events in CT (many of which have gone virutal during the pandemic like ours!), including (in Milford) the Milford Hospital Live Well Mothers Day Run, Milford Bank Run for Veterans, Running Water for Africa, and the Trick or Trot. Other runs Marty has coordinated in nearby towns include the Cinco de Mayo 5K in Orange, the MADD Dash & Turkey Trot in Stratford, the Great Pumpkin in Trumbull, and the Colony Grill Hot Oil and the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, both of which take place in Fairfield.