We wanted to thank the following people who contributed to its success:

Title sponsor, Anderson Industries for their generous donation and sponsorship of our race

Mittman & Rehling Remax Group for their Bronze Sponsorship and for donating two sets of tickets for Phillies Games

Additional Bronze Sponsors:

Product/Services donations:

Lux Spa and Gym

Whitpain Tavern

PJ Wheelahan’s

Tigers’ Two

Andrew Wood

Fork Restaurant

Kevin High Photography – on-site photography services

Suzy-Joe Donuts for donating 7 dozen donuts

DeKalb Produce fresh/delicious oranges for all participants

Road ID for donating prizes and race tags

Electro Soft, Incorporated – printing services

Colby Johnston

Volunteers:

Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher Sorority

Wissahickon High School National Honor Society

Troop 7127- Blue Bell Jr. Girl Scouts

Christie Mendez and the Ambler/Whitpain Trojan cheerleaders

We want to thank all of the runners who participated and the overall support from the Wissahickon High School Class of 1994.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to Audrey Pyle and Cam Johnston who worked tireless to execute and support this race.  They are the dream team when it comes to charity.

In regards to the $25 coupon for race participants, Lux Spa has your name.  Just mention our race when you book your appointment.

-Karla Trotman, race coordinator

Race Results can be viewed here

Did you notice?  New design, yet similar to last years…

Tomorrow’s H5K race is for the children of Babati, Tanzania.  It is only fit that the story that began in Blue Bell, continues in Blue Bell

(Blue Bell, PA) September 9, 2011 — Joshua Johnston grew up in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, attended college at Eastern University and found himself on a safari in East Africa that changed his life forever.

Joshua was taken by the amount of homeless children in Babati, Tanzania; the small town he visited while participating in a cultural tourism program. The children would work small jobs just to make enough money for a day’s meal.  They had no parents, no education, no future.

After returning home, the scenes would play out in Joshua’s head over and over again.  Whereas most of us would just return to our daily grand, Joshua did something different.  He relocated to Tanzania, making his home in Babati where a mere $350 per month is a comfortable lifestyle. Anxious to initiate change, Joshua took the time to observe and understand his community, what was currently in place, and took note as to what was actually working. Joshua also learned Swahili, spoke to community leaders, and volunteered with a local organization that was already successful and operating effectively by Tanzanian citizens.  That organization was called the Manyara Holistic Centre (MAHOCE).  But even with its success, the biggest hindrance to this organization’s growth was its lack of finances. It was in desperate need of operating capital and had zero access to it.  It was then that Joshua had a plan.

He connected with friends and family from home and ultimately established a 501(c)3 with the goal of helping his community in Babati.  “I was impressed with the initiative taken by the local community and I knew if we joined together the help we could provide these street children would be that much more”, Joshua stated. On September 11, 2008 the Harambee Foundation was founded.  Since then, it has helped MAHOCE house and educate 30 youth.

Harambee’s focus, right now, is to raise money to cultivate a 50-acre plot of land that was given to MAHOCE as a donation.  This donation will provide the foundation for a program which will, ultimately, sustain itself within a 3 to 5 year period. The goal is to use money raised by Harambee to construct additional housing and schools as well as cultivate the land for farming and livestock. The harvest will be sold to the village community allowing the center to operate fully on its own.  This is why Harambee is so special and unique.  All money raised goes directly to Babati.

Tomorrow at 8 AM, the 2^nd Annual H5K will take place at Montgomery County Community College.  Over 100 people registered to run in last year’s race and we are hoping for an even larger turnout this year.  Sponsors include:  Anderson Industries, Mittman & Rehling, Gwynedd Chiropractic, Kevin High Photography, State Farm- Michael Groves, Road ID, Conshohocken Physical Therapy, Faccenda construction and On the Fly.

Karla Trotman is a high school classmate of Joshua’s and the race coordinator.  When asked about tomorrow’s race she replied, “Just ask people why they are running in the H5K they will say, ‘It’s an amazing cause’.  People see all that Joshua is doing in Tanzania and want to support his work.  That is why I volunteered to help.”

To make a donation to this worth cause you can go to the Harambee Foundation website – http://www.HarambeeFoundation.org. All gifts are tax deductible.

# # #

The Harambee Foundation is committed to profoundly impact the lives of vulnerable children and women in collaboration with local community initiatives in East Africa. Harambee envisions a world where people of differing countries, races and ethnicity come together in solidarity to effectively solve issues relating to poverty, lack of educational opportunities and social justice. This vision is one where all peoples recognize their God given potential and abilities to affect change within their own lives, communities, and the larger world in order to achieve substantial healing and progress. For more information go to: www.HarambeeFoundation.org or the H5K visit:  http://runH5K.com or contact Karla Trotman karla@harambeefoundation.org, 267.625.6690

Babati School Children Photo Courtesy of robincd123

Here is What $25 Buys in Tanzania:

• Two pairs of school shoes
• 50 school notebooks
• 30 lbs of dried beans
• Two months worth of laundry soap
• Two months of malaria treatments

Babati Market - Sandals Photo Courtesy of martinaberg

$50 Buys:

• A year’s supply of medicated bar soap
• Two year supply of pens for school
• Six month supply of salt
• Two goats for breeding
• Nine months of water for the Center
  

  Tanzania Classroom Photo Courtesy of EganM11

$100 Buys:

• The Center’s rent for an entire month
• 100 pairs of underwear
• The Center’s electric bill for 10 months
• 30 pairs of school shorts
• 4 sleeping mattresses

Babati School Children Photo Courtesy of robincd123

So you see, every little bit DOES help and WILL help the children of Babati, Tanzania.  We hope that you will join our effort and sign up for the H5K today.

* Active.com does charge the runner a small fee for using their registration site.

Blue Bell’s Connection to Tanzania

An East African trip causes a Blue Bell man to move there in order to make a difference in the lives of the countless homeless children

(Blue Bell, PA) July 25, 2011 — Joshua Johnston grew up in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, attended college at Eastern University and found himself on a safari in East Africa that changed his life forever.

Joshua was taken by the amount of homeless children in Babati, Tanzania; the small town he visited while participating in a cultural tourism program. The children would work small jobs just to make enough money for a day’s meal.  They had no parents, no education, no future.

After returning home, the scenes would play out in Joshua’s head over and over again.  Whereas most of us would just return to our daily grand, Joshua did something different.  He relocated to Tanzania, making his home in Babati where a mere $350 per month is a comfortable lifestyle. Anxious to initiate change, Joshua took the time to observe and understand his community, what was currently in place, and took note as to what was actually working. Joshua also learned Swahili, spoke to community leaders, and volunteered with a local organization that was already successful and operating effectively by Tanzanian citizens.  That organization was called the Manyara Holistic Centre (MAHOCE).  But even with its success, the biggest hindrance to this organization’s growth was its lack of finances. It was in desperate need of operating capital and had zero access to it.  It was then that Joshua had a plan.

He connected with friends and family from home and ultimately established a 501(c)3 with the goal of helping his community in Babati.  “I was impressed with the initiative taken by the local community and I knew if we joined together the help we could provide these street children would be that much more”, Joshua stated. On September 11, 2008 the Harambee Foundation was founded.  Since then, it has helped MAHOCE house and educate 30 youth.

Harambee’s focus, right now, is to raise money to cultivate a 50-acre plot of land that was given to MAHOCE as a donation.  This donation will provide the foundation for a program which will, ultimately, sustain itself within a 3 to 5 year period. The goal is to use money raised by Harambee to construct additional housing and schools as well as cultivate the land for farming and livestock. The harvest will be sold to the village community allowing the center to operate fully on its own.  This is why Harambee is so special and unique.  All money raised goes directly to Babati.

The Harambee H5K race (and 3 mile walk) will take place on Saturday, September 10^th at 8:00 AM at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.  Over 100 people registered to run in last year’s race and we are hoping for an even larger turnout this year.  People see all that Joshua is doing in Tanzania and want to support him and his foundation.

To make a donation to this worth cause you can go to the Harambee Foundation website – http://www.HarambeeFoundation.org. All gifts are tax deductible.

# # #

The Harambee Foundation is committed to profoundly impact the lives of vulnerable children and women in collaboration with local community initiatives in East Africa. Harambee envisions a world where people of differing countries, races and ethnicity come together in solidarity to effectively solve issues relating to poverty, lack of educational opportunities and social justice. This vision is one where all peoples recognize their God given potential and abilities to affect change within their own lives, communities, and the larger world in order to achieve substantial healing and progress. For more information go to: www.HarambeeFoundation.org or the H5K visit:  http://runH5K.com or contact Karla Trotman karla [at] harambeefoundation [dot] org

This unique gospel music CD is a joyous celebration  of the collaborative effort of individuals on opposite sides of the world, with the beat of one heart filled with compassion for the orphans and at-risk children of the small villages of northern Tanzania.

The purchase of your CD is a donation that goes directly to programs that support vulnerable children in Tanzania.

Visit here for sample music and to learn more: http://www.heartsinunity.org/harambee.html

Harambee Foundation 2nd Annual H5K – 5K run and 3K fun walk.

September 10th

Registration: 7:00 AM

Race starts: 8:00 AM

Walk starts: 8:15 AM

* Montgomery County Community College – Blue Bell, PA

Professionally timed & Prizes awarded to top finishers.

Proceeds to benefit our ongoing efforts toward our building & land development project, supporting the children of Babati, Tanzania.

Fundraising goal: $5,000

Click here for online Registration

Click here for mail-in Registration

Why we are running: to provide our project in Babati, Tanzania with the seed money required to create a platform of self-sustainability. This model differs from many because its not just a donation, rather a means to create a foundation for which this community will use to grow on its own. All monies raised will allow us to build our home for street children & orphans, which they, the people of Babati, will sustain by planting and growing food and by raising cattle, goats and chickens, as both a food source and as a means to generate income while supporting daily operating costs.

In addition, the farmstead will serve as a training center and model of best practice for the local community, ensuring that our children learn practical life skills while being raised in the context of their own community and cultural traditions. Want more info H5K brochure.

Be a part of a movement to change a community

Not a runner? We welcome your donation. No amount is too small.

Click here to Donate!

Are you social?

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Race Twitter Hashtag:  #H5K

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
** If you would like to learn more or become a community sponsor or volunteer for this event please contact: KARLA TROTMAN
Email:karla@harambeefoundation.org
Cell: 1-267-625-6690

Harambee Foundation
Email:

josh@harambeefoundation.org

rich@harambeefoundation.org
PO Box 216
West Point, PA 19486
Phone: 1-610-659-7722